medicinal
adjective
me·dic·i·nal
mə-ˈdis-nəl,
-ˈdi-sᵊn-əl
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
: salutary
medicinal
noun
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
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
Four of the 20 experiences–aquatic therapy, quantum healing, and a Balinese medicinal plants workshop among them–are available daily on a rotating basis.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Bubbles, anyone? Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicinal
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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
Four of the 20 experiences–aquatic therapy, quantum healing, and a Balinese medicinal plants workshop among them–are available daily on a rotating basis.
—Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025
Bubbles, anyone? Foods and drinks with wellness benefits might seem like a modern phenomenon, but the urge to create drinks with medicinal properties inspired what might be called a soda revolution in the 1800s.
—Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for medicinal
Cite this Entry
“Medicinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicinal. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
medicinal
adjective
me·dic·i·nal
mə-ˈdis-nəl
-ᵊn-əl
: tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
medicinally
adverb
-ē
Medical Definition
medicinal
1 of 2 adjective
me·dic·i·nal
mə-ˈdis-nəl, -ᵊn-əl
: of, relating to, or being medicine : tending or used to cure disease or relieve pain
medicinal
2 of 2 noun
: a medicinal substance : medicine
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