spinal

1 of 2

adjective

spi·​nal ˈspī-nᵊl How to pronounce spinal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord
spinal reflexes
b
: having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain
experiments on spinal animals
3
: of, relating to, or resembling a spine

spinal

2 of 2

noun

: a spinal anesthetic

Examples of spinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
The rock legend was also diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and had major spinal surgery as recently as 2022 and 2023. Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025 Since suffering a spinal injury in 2007 that caused nerve damage, Collins’ health has been up and down, concerning fans. Karu F. Daniels, New York Daily News, 28 July 2025
Noun
PlushBeds Botanical Bliss Organic Latex Mattress provides a combination of resilient support for optimal spinal alignment and conforming pressure relief that is essential for alleviating and preventing various types of back pain. Nora Colomer May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 27 June 2025 But then his father suffered a spinal stroke, North said. Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for spinal

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1944, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spinal was in 1578

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

spinal

adjective
spi·​nal
ˈspīn-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or located near the backbone
2
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord

Medical Definition

spinal

1 of 2 adjective
spi·​nal ˈspīn-ᵊl How to pronounce spinal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or situated near the spinal column
2
a
: of, relating to, or affecting the spinal cord
spinal reflexes
b
: having the spinal cord functionally isolated (as by surgical section) from the brain
experiments on spinal animals
c
: used for spinal anesthesia
a spinal anesthetic
3
: made for or fitted to the spinal column
a spinal brace
spinally adverb

spinal

2 of 2 noun
: a spinal anesthetic

More from Merriam-Webster on spinal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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