clinical

adjective

clin·​i·​cal ˈkli-ni-kəl 

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

ˈkli-ni-k(ə-)lē 

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

The whole experience felt almost clinical, like a trip to the doctor. —Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025

Longer and larger prospective studies are needed to inform clinical guidance about how this population can safely use GLP-1s, Basina said. —Julia Ries, Health, 9 Apr. 2025

Zoom in: The city's Federal Immunization Vaccines for Children Grant was reduced by $500,000 and can no longer cover direct vaccine clinical operations, per a Monday memo city manager Erik Walsh sent to the City Council. —Alex Fitzpatrick, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025

Apple's system mirrors clinical reasoning, cross-referencing data against global health benchmarks to deliver hyper-personalized advice. —Tim Bajarin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing clinical

• clinical depression
• clinical psychologist
• clinical psychology
• clinical thermometer
• clinical trial

Rhymes for clinical

• binnacle
• cynical
• pinnacle
• nonclinical
• preclinical
• rabbinical
• subclinical

Kids Definition

clinical

adjective

clin·​i·​cal ˈklin-i-kəl 

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

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

clinical

adjective

clin·​i·​cal ˈklin-i-kəl 

: 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 personality

—Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation

three of these six foods were actually the cause of symptoms, and upon their elimination, clinical cure was effected

—Journal of Pediatrics

clinically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

a clinically significant infection

clinically effective therapies