clinic

1 of 2

noun

clin·​ic ˈkli-nik How to pronounce clinic (audio)
1
: a class of medical instruction in which patients are examined and discussed
2
: a group meeting devoted to the analysis and solution of concrete problems or to the acquiring of specific skills or knowledge
writing clinics
golf clinics
3
a
: a facility (as of a hospital) for diagnosis and treatment of outpatients
b
: a group practice in which several physicians work cooperatively
4
: a facility that offers professional services or consultation usually at discounted rates
a legal clinic
5
: an exemplary display or performance
put on a clinic in the tournament

-clinic

2 of 2

adjective combining form

1
: inclining : dipping
2
: having (so many) oblique intersections of the axes
triclinic

Examples of clinic in a Sentence

Noun The clinic is offering free screening for diabetes. He checked into a drug rehab clinic. The hospital is holding a pain clinic on Tuesday night for anyone interested in learning how to deal with chronic pain. A local club is giving a fishing clinic on Saturday.
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.
Noun
Denmark was the first foreign market, but the device is now being adopted in clinics across France, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, and the UK. Charlie Fink, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025 Maven Clinic, a three-time CNBC Disruptor 50 company, is the largest virtual clinic for women’s and family health with more than 2,000 employers and health plans using its platform. Ian Thomas, CNBC, 18 June 2025 Charlene was absent from Monaco for much of 2021 and early 2022, staying first in South Africa and then at a clinic in Switzerland, recovering from what Page Six and other outlets reported was a long illness and exhaustion. Martha Ross, Mercury News, 18 June 2025 According to the report, local clinics and neighborhood watch units were required to report cases to central authorities. Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for clinic

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French clinique, from Greek klinikē medical practice at the sickbed, from feminine of klinikos of a bed, from klinē bed, from klinein to lean, recline — more at lean

Adjective combining form

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Greek klinein

First Known Use

Noun

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clinic was in 1827

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Cite this Entry

“Clinic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinic. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

clinic

noun
clin·​ic ˈklin-ik How to pronounce clinic (audio)
1
: a class of medical instruction in which patients are examined and discussed
2
: a group meeting for teaching a certain skill and working on individual problems
a reading clinic
3
: a place for the treatment of people needing medical help who do not stay overnight
Etymology

Noun

from French clinique "medical instruction at a hospital bed," from Greek klinikē "medical practice at a sickbed," derived from klinē "bed," from klinein "to lean, recline" — related to climate, climax

Medical Definition

clinic

noun
clin·​ic ˈklin-ik How to pronounce clinic (audio)
1
a
: a session or class of medical instruction in a hospital held at the bedside of patients serving as case studies
b
: a group of selected patients presented with discussion before doctors (as at a convention) for purposes of instruction
2
a
: an institution connected with a hospital or medical school where diagnosis and treatment are made available to outpatients
b
: a form of group practice in which several physicians (as specialists) work in cooperative association

More from Merriam-Webster on clinic

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