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noun B1 Intermediate Common

clinic

KLIHN-ihk

Clinic (noun) means a medical facility, often smaller than a hospital, that treats outpatients for a particular condition or type of care. Example: “She booked an appointment at the local dental clinic.”

noun
1
A medical facility, often smaller than a hospital, that treats outpatients for a particular condition or type of care.
"She booked an appointment at the local dental clinic."
"The clinic offers free flu vaccinations every autumn."
2
A short, focused session of training or advice on a particular skill or subject.
"The tennis coach ran a serving clinic for junior players."

How to Use Clinic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA place for medical treatment, or more broadly, a short training session focused on one skill.

Common pairings
walk-in clinic run a clinic health clinic

Word Forms

clinics plural

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Fill the Gap

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She booked an appointment at the local dental _____.

Etymology

Via French clinique from Late Latin clinicus, from Greek klīnikós, "of the bed" — from klīnē, "bed," since the word originally referred to bedside medical treatment.

Origin: Late Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for clinic

See all rhymes for clinic →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “clinic” mean?

The word “clinic” means a medical facility, often smaller than a hospital, that treats outpatients for a particular condition or type of care. In plain terms, a place for medical treatment, or more broadly, a short training session focused on one skill.

How do you pronounce “clinic”?

“Clinic” is pronounced KLIHN-ihk (/ˈklɪn.ɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “clinic” in a sentence?

Here is “clinic” used in a sentence: “She booked an appointment at the local dental clinic.”

What part of speech is “clinic”?

“Clinic” is a noun.

Where does the word “clinic” come from?

The word “clinic” comes from Late Latin. Via French clinique from Late Latin clinicus, from Greek klīnikós, "of the bed" — from klīnē, "bed," since the word originally referred to bedside medical treatment.

Is “clinic” a common word?

“Clinic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “clinic” have?

“Clinic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medical facility, often smaller than a hospital, that treats outpatients for a particular condition or type of care.

What is the difference between a 'clinic' and a 'hospital'?

A clinic is usually a smaller facility that treats outpatients — people who visit for care and go home the same day — and often focuses on a particular condition. A hospital is larger and can admit patients to stay overnight for more serious or complex treatment.

What are common types of clinic?

Common examples include an outpatient clinic, a walk-in clinic, a dental clinic, and an antenatal clinic. In each case the word describes a place set up to provide a specific kind of care or advice.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial