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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Garlic Garlic, commonly used for both culinary and medicinal purposes, contains allicin—a compound believed to help lower cholesterol production in the liver. Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 22 July 2025 Stitzel Distillery portfolio and was sold for medicinal use throughout the 1920s. Chris Perugini, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025 Instead, horehound candy tastes distinctly bittersweet and almost medicinal, due to its herby main ingredient that gets only slightly jazzed up with sugar or molasses. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 11 July 2025 Caligula was also convinced that his own father, Germanicus, died from poisoning, a belief that may have encouraged him to study medicinal plants in order to avoid the same fate. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for medicinal

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

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Cite this Entry

“Medicinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicinal. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

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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