medicinal

adjective

me·​dic·​i·​nal
mə-ˈdis-nəl,
-ˈdi-sᵊn-əl How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
 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
medicinal noun
medicinally
mə-ˈdis-nə-lē How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
-ˈdi-sᵊn-ə-lē;
adverb

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 City Council members will vote Tuesday night on whether to adopt an ordinance that would tightly control medicinal cannabis deliveries within city limits. Stephanie Lam, The Mercury News, 4 Mar. 2024 Notably, cannabis has legal status for medicinal use in 38 states and for recreational purposes in 24 states. Jordan Greene, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 A couple of bitter, medicinal Sazeracs ($34 total) and a chicken liver mousse ($14) end a very long day. Bon Appétit Contributor, Bon Appétit, 23 Feb. 2024 Marijuana is a medicinal herb, used for thousands of years. Amy Dickinson, The Mercury News, 22 Feb. 2024 In the weeks since Californians voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use, the phones have been ringing more intensely and the flow of walk-in patients has picked up at 420 Med Evaluations, a midtown Sacramento clinic specializing in medicinal pot referrals. Peter Hecht, Sacramento Bee, 21 Feb. 2024 One of Europe's most technologically advanced botanical gardens, there are over 30,000 plants on-site that range from rare to medicinal and even musical (the world’s first ‘vegetable piano’ lives here). Chloe Sachdev, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Feb. 2024 Safe zones, empathy and/or sympathy, and catharsis: a medicinal combo. Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 2 Feb. 2024 The board also is completing a registration system, with people who use cannabis for medicinal or sacramental purposes expected to have access to it by April, according to Hannah Carty, the board’s executive director. Dánica Coto, Quartz, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'medicinal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of medicinal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near medicinal

Cite this Entry

“Medicinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicinal. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

medicinal

adjective
me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
-ᵊn-əl
: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
medicinally
adverb

Medical Definition

medicinal

1 of 2 adjective
me·​dic·​i·​nal mə-ˈdis-nəl, -ᵊn-əl How to pronounce medicinal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being medicine : tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
medicinally adverb

medicinal

2 of 2 noun
: a medicinal substance : medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on medicinal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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