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

One challenge clinical research organizations face during the holidays is delayed decision-making, as key stakeholders are often unavailable or focused on year-end priorities. —Expert Panel®, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024

States are also considering factors such as concerns about adherence, the need for clinical criteria and potential side effects. —Tina Reed, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024

In the past, a friend had suggested Fountain House, a national mental health nonprofit that offers clinical support, housing resources, care management, and work programs for people experiencing serious mental illness, based in a physical location known as a clubhouse. —Allie Volpe, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024

Dry air may not seem like the most pressing beauty issue, but according to Suzanne Friedler, MD, clinical instructor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, changes in humidity can lead to issues like dry, brittle hair and leathery skin. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Nov. 2024

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

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