clinical
adjective
clin·i·cal
ˈkli-ni-kəl 
1
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic: such as
a
: involving direct observation of the patient
clinical diagnosis
b
: based on or characterized by observable and diagnosable symptoms
clinical treatment
clinical tuberculosis
2
: analytical or coolly dispassionate
describing the situation with clinical detachment
3
US, informal
: done or performed with excellence and precision : exemplary
In the meantime Bryant … continued his clinical shooting, which has allowed him to more than double his scoring average …—
Alexander Wolff
Alexander WolffExamples of clinical in a Sentence
Both experimental and clinical evidence show that the treatment is effective.
She enjoys her clinical practice but is looking forward to working in a laboratory.
Three hundred patients were involved in the clinical study.
Recent Examples on the Web
However, more research is needed before this can be turned into clinical advice.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Jordi Alba threaded a pass through a tight space in the box and found his former Barcelona teammate Messi, who turned and made the clinical finish.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Rice researchers are working with surgeons at the Texas Medical Center to build wireless fluidic control systems that address unmet clinical needs.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
But sometimes signs are less obvious, says Kanchi Wijesekera, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder and clinical director of the Milika Center for Therapy & Resilience.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinical
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New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
Jordi Alba threaded a pass through a tight space in the box and found his former Barcelona teammate Messi, who turned and made the clinical finish.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
Rice researchers are working with surgeons at the Texas Medical Center to build wireless fluidic control systems that address unmet clinical needs.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2025
But sometimes signs are less obvious, says Kanchi Wijesekera, PhD, clinical psychologist and founder and clinical director of the Milika Center for Therapy & Resilience.
—wendy Wisner, Parents, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clinical
Cite this Entry
“Clinical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clinical. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
clinical
adjective
clin·i·cal
ˈklin-i-kəl
1
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic
clinical examination
2
: involving or based on direct observation of the patient
clinical studies
Medical Definition
clinical
adjective
clin·i·cal
ˈklin-i-kəl
: of, relating to, or conducted in or as if in a clinic: as
a
: involving or concerned with the direct observation and treatment of living patients
engaged in full-time clinical practice
clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology
b
: of, relating to, based on, or characterized by observable and diagnosable symptoms of disease
the clinical picture on admission was that of mild depression in an extremely rigid personality—Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation
Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitationthree of these six foods were actually the cause of symptoms, and upon their elimination, clinical cure was effected—Journal of Pediatrics
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