medicinal

adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal

mə-ˈdis-nəl,

-ˈdi-sᵊn-əl 

 in Shakespeare & Milton  ˌme-di-ˈsī-nᵊl,

 &  ˈmed-sə-nəl

1

: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain

a medicinal compound

the plant's medicinal properties

used for medicinal purposes

2

: salutary

medicinal noun

medicinally

mə-ˈdis-nə-lē 

-ˈdi-sᵊn-ə-lē;

adverb

Synonyms

• cure
• drug
• medicament
• medication
• medicine
• pharmaceutical
• physic
• remedy
• specific

Examples of medicinal in a Sentence

This drug is to be used only for medicinal purposes.

even in Roman times the hot mineral springs of Bath, England, were believed to possess medicinal properties

Recent Examples on the Web

Horsetail Plant Extract As a nutraceutical (a plant product with medicinal benefits), horsetail may potentially benefit hair loss in people undergoing breast cancer treatment.15 Horsetail is also an ingredient in a hair-growth supplement called Viviscal. —Kathi Valeii, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024

Independent and other voters also showed strong support for legal medical pot, with 70% in favor and 16.5% against legalizing the medicinal use of cannabis. —A.j. Herrington, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024

But the fact that it’s being legalized for medicinal use is informing people that this is something safe or effective. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 21 Oct. 2024

Examples include machine learning, new materials, protein structures, and new medicinal drugs. —Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing medicinal

• medicinal leech

Kids Definition

medicinal

adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl 

-ᵊn-əl

: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain

medicinally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

medicinal

1 of 2 adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl, -ᵊn-əl 

: of, relating to, or being medicine : tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain

medicinally

-ē 

adverb

medicinal

2 of 2 noun

: a medicinal substance : medicine