clinical

adjective

clin·​i·​cal ˈkli-ni-kəl How to pronounce clinical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic: such as
a
: involving direct observation of the patient
clinical diagnosis
b
: based on or characterized by observable and diagnosable symptoms
clinical treatment
clinical tuberculosis
2
: analytical or coolly dispassionate
describing the situation with clinical detachment
3
US, informal : done or performed with excellence and precision : exemplary
In the meantime Bryant … continued his clinical shooting, which has allowed him to more than double his scoring average …Alexander Wolff
clinically adverb

Examples of clinical in a Sentence

Both experimental and clinical evidence show that the treatment is effective. She enjoys her clinical practice but is looking forward to working in a laboratory. Three hundred patients were involved in the clinical study.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Transparent Validation And Bias Audits Every AI model deployed in clinical practice should undergo rigorous external validation on datasets that were not part of its initial training. Sanjay Juneja, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025 Though his brace against Southampton in the 2-1 win were his first goals since December 29, Strand Larsen is a goalscorer who is proving capable of bringing his clinical edge to England’s top tier. Steve Madeley, The Athletic, 17 Mar. 2025 Holly Shearman, clinical director of Tomball Birth Center, where Rojas worked part-time, told The Tribune she was shocked by the arrest. Michelle Watson, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025 According to Cynthia Vejar, PhD, program director & associate professor of clinical mental health counseling at Lebanon Valley College, daycare can have some clear benefits for children. Wendy Wisner, Parents, 17 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clinical

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clinical was circa 1728

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clinical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinical. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

clinical

adjective
clin·​i·​cal ˈklin-i-kəl How to pronounce clinical (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic
clinical examination
2
: involving or based on direct observation of the patient
clinical studies
clinically adverb

Medical Definition

clinical

adjective
clin·​i·​cal ˈklin-i-kəl How to pronounce clinical (audio)
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic: as
a
: involving or concerned with the direct observation and treatment of living patients
engaged in full-time clinical practice
clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology
b
: of, relating to, based on, or characterized by observable and diagnosable symptoms of disease
the clinical picture on admission was that of mild depression in an extremely rigid personalityOccupational Therapy & Rehabilitation
three of these six foods were actually the cause of symptoms, and upon their elimination, clinical cure was effectedJournal of Pediatrics
clinically adverb
a clinically significant infection
clinically effective therapies

More from Merriam-Webster on clinical

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