topical
adjective
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Like a topical medicine, a topical reference or story applies to something specific, focusing on a topic that's currently in the news. TV comedians often use topical humor, making jokes about a currently popular movie or the latest political scandal—if possible, one that just broke that same day. Topical humor has a short lifespan, though, because the news keeps changing and the new hot topics just keep coming. The medical meaning of topical stays closer to the meaning of the root, since it describes something that's put right on the place that seems to need it.
Examples of topical in a Sentence
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 24 Jan. 2025
The topical ointment is made from a combination of medicines, including antifungals, antibiotics, antimicrobials and steroids, according to PetMD.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 14 Jan. 2025
This formula is a great option for anyone who wants to reap the benefits of a spectrum of mind- and body-supporting ingredients rather than just topical magnesium.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 11 Jan. 2025
These topical reports lay the foundation for how eVinci will be licensed, Crider says.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for topical 
Dictionary Entries Near topical
Cite this Entry
“Topical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topical. Accessed 27 Jan. 2025.
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topical
adjective
Medical Definition
topical
adjective
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