orthopedic

adjective

or·​tho·​pe·​dic ˌȯr-thə-ˈpē-dik 

variants or less commonly orthopaedic

1

: of, relating to, or employed in orthopedics

an orthopedic surgeon

orthopedic shoes

2

: marked by or affected with a skeletal deformity, disorder, or injury

an orthopedic condition

people with orthopedic problems

orthopedically

ˌȯr-thə-ˈpē-di-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of orthopedic in a Sentence

She was wearing orthopedic shoes.

Recent Examples on the Web

The chief resident of orthopedic surgery at Cedars Sinai Medical Center also walked jurors through X-rays showing the wounds to Megan’s feet. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 Jan. 2025

Joining us now to discuss these new treatment options is Dr. Cassandra Lee, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at UC Davis. —Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 6 Jan. 2025

Health just hired orthopedic surgeons who are triplets. —Leo Bertucci, The Courier-Journal, 23 Dec. 2024

Grissom and Wilson — a communications specialist and orthopedic surgeon, respectively — have documented the transformation via YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, amassing more than 2 million followers among the platforms. —Domenica Bongiovanni, The Indianapolis Star, 18 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French orthopédique, from orthopédie orthopedics, from orth- + Greek paid-, pais child — more at few

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

orthopedic

adjective

or·​tho·​pe·​dic ˌȯr-thə-ˈpēd-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or used in orthopedics

2

: marked by or affected with skeletal deformity, disorder, or injury

Medical Definition

orthopedic

adjective

or·​tho·​pe·​dic

variants or chiefly British orthopaedic

ˌȯr-thə-ˈpēd-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or employed in orthopedics

orthopedic surgery

orthopedic casts

2

: marked by or affected with a deformity, disorder, or injury of the skeleton and associated structures

orthopedically adverb

or chiefly British orthopaedically

-ˈpēd-i-k(ə-)lē