surgical
Surgical (adj) means relating to or used in surgery. Example: “The nurse laid out the surgical instruments.”
How to Use Surgical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to operations on the body, or, more broadly, extremely precise.
Word Forms
more surgical comparative, most surgical superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nurse laid out the _____ instruments.
Related Words
Rhymes for surgical
See all rhymes for surgical →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “surgical” mean?
The word “surgical” means relating to or used in surgery. In plain terms, relating to operations on the body, or, more broadly, extremely precise.
How do you pronounce “surgical”?
“Surgical” is pronounced SURD-zhih-kuhl (/ˈsɝd͡ʒɪkəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “surgical” in a sentence?
Here is “surgical” used in a sentence: “The nurse laid out the surgical instruments.”
What part of speech is “surgical”?
“Surgical” is an adjective.
Is “surgical” a common word?
“Surgical” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “surgical” have?
“Surgical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to or used in surgery.
What is the difference between "surgical" and "medical"?
"Medical" relates broadly to medicine and the treatment of illness, while "surgical" relates specifically to surgery — treating the body by operating on it. Hospitals often use the words as a contrasting pair: medical management means drugs and other non-operative care, while surgical management means an operation.
What is a "surgical strike"?
A "surgical strike" is a military attack intended to be extremely precise and controlled — hitting one specific target while causing as little harm as possible around it. The phrase borrows the surgeon's image of exactness and is also used figuratively for any narrowly targeted action.