Hippocratic

adjective

Hip·​po·​crat·​ic ˌhi-pə-ˈkra-tik How to pronounce Hippocratic (audio)
: of or relating to Hippocrates or to the school of medicine that took his name

Examples of Hippocratic in a Sentence

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.
Among the oldest such cultural translations are the Hippocratic aphorisms. Jan Steyn, The Dial, 10 Mar. 2026 In the spirit of the Hippocratic oath, first do no harm. Behnam Ben Taleblu, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026 Anyone who is trying to hire 50 nurses and can't is a viable [Hippocratic] customer. Erin Brodwin, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025 Clubbed nails, also known as digital clubbing or Hippocratic fingers, describe a downward slope or curve in your fingernails or toenails. Mark Gurarie, Health, 14 Feb. 2025 Instead of virtuosity, textual fidelity and the pursuit of excellence, music making around vulnerable people calls on a mix of ethical values and social skills — chief among them the Hippocratic injunction to do no harm. Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim, New York Times, 11 Feb. 2025 But that’s one of bit of Hippocratic wisdom that may be overstated. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Hippocratic was in 1617

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Cite this Entry

“Hippocratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hippocratic. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

Hippocratic

adjective
Hip·​po·​crat·​ic ˌhip-ə-ˈkrat-ik How to pronounce Hippocratic (audio)
: of or relating to the Greek physician Hippocrates or to the school of medicine that took his name

Medical Definition

Hippocratic

adjective
Hip·​po·​crat·​ic ˌhip-ə-ˈkrat-ik How to pronounce Hippocratic (audio)
: of or relating to Hippocrates or to the school of medicine that took his name
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