medicine

noun

med·​i·​cine ˈme-di-sən 

British usually

ˈmed-sən 

1

a

: a substance or preparation used in treating disease

cough medicine

b

: something that affects well-being

he's bad medicine

—Zane Grey

2

a

: the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease

She's interested in a career in medicine.

b

: the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease

3

: a substance (such as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease

4

: an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces

also : magical power or a magical rite

medicine transitive verb

Synonyms

• cure
• drug
• medicament
• medication
• medicinal
• pharmaceutical
• physic
• remedy
• specific

Examples of medicine in a Sentence

He forgot to take his medicine.

Did you look in the medicine cabinet for a pain reliever?

Their research has led to many important advances in modern medicine.

She's interested in a career in medicine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Plus, the brilliant colors splashed across the night sky are created by an array of potentially toxic metals, says Terry Gordon, a professor in the department of environmental medicine at NYU Langone Health. —Angela Haupt, TIME, 27 June 2024

The European Union’s drug regulator urged countries to clamp down on cosmetic use of powerful drugs for weight loss and diabetes, saying that patients who need the medicines most must get priority as shortages continue. —Alena Botros, Fortune Europe, 26 June 2024

That’s when Wyle, Wells and Gemmill pivoted to creating a new series set in the world of medicine. —Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 26 June 2024

Kurzweil makes strident assertions about a wide range of subjects, from personal identity to the nature of consciousness to the future of medicine. —Becca Rothfeld, Washington Post, 26 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin medicina, from feminine of medicinus of a physician, from medicus

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing medicine

• allopathic medicine
• alternative medicine
• a taste/dose of someone's own medicine
• complementary medicine
• conventional medicine
• defensive medicine
• doctor of medicine
• doctor of osteopathic medicine
• emergency medicine
• folk medicine
• herbal medicine
• homeopathic medicine
• internal medicine
• medicine ball
• medicine chest
• medicine dropper
• medicine man
• medicine show
• nuclear medicine
• osteopathic medicine
• patent medicine
• personalized medicine
• physical medicine
• physical medicine and rehabilitation
• precision medicine
• regenerative medicine
• socialized medicine
• space medicine
• sports medicine
• take one's medicine
• veterinary medicine
• Western medicine

Kids Definition

medicine

noun

med·​i·​cine ˈmed-ə-sən 

1

: a substance or preparation used in treating disease

2

: the science or art that deals with the prevention, cure, or easing of disease

especially : the practice of the physician as it differs from that of the surgeon

3

: an object, power, or ceremony held to give control over natural or magical forces

Medical Definition

medicine

noun

med·​i·​cine

ˈmed-ə-sən, British usually ˈmed-sən

1

: a substance or preparation used in treating disease

2

a

: the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease

b

: the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease