topical

adjective

top·​i·​cal ˈtä-pi-kəl 

1

a

: referring to the topics of the day or place : of local or temporary interest

a topical novel

topical references

b

: of, relating to, or arranged by topics

set down in topical form

2

: designed for or involving local application and action (as on the body)

a topical anesthetic

a topical remedy

topically

ˈtä-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Like a topical medicine, a topical reference or story applies to something specific, focusing on a topic that's currently in the news. TV comedians often use topical humor, making jokes about a currently popular movie or the latest political scandal—if possible, one that just broke that same day. Topical humor has a short lifespan, though, because the news keeps changing and the new hot topics just keep coming. The medical meaning of topical stays closer to the meaning of the root, since it describes something that's put right on the place that seems to need it.

Examples of topical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An animal study involving rats found that when chamomile was delivered in a topical gel carrier, the duration of skin healing decreased twofold compared to chamomile oil applied without the carrier gel.13 What Oils Are Good for Skin? —Kathi Valeii, Verywell Health, 24 Oct. 2024

With this, the category has also gone beyond topical products into devices and supplements. —Emily Burns, WWD, 22 Oct. 2024

After all, the only true benefit of topical hydrolyzed collagen is moisturizing skin, as cosmetic chemist Ginger King previously shared with Allure. —Devon Abelman, Allure, 21 Oct. 2024

What to expect during treatment: Dorantes applies a topical anesthetic for around 30 minutes, and the treatment itself takes 20 to 30 minutes. —Amber Gibson, Glamour, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

topical

adjective

top·​i·​cal ˈtäp-i-kəl 

1

: designed to be applied to or to work on a specific place or part (as of the body)

a topical medicine

2

a

: of or relating to topics

topical outline

b

: referring to the topics of the day or place

topical jokes

topically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

topical

adjective

top·​i·​cal ˈtäp-i-kəl 

: designed for or involving application to or action on the surface of a part of the body

applied a topical anesthetic to numb the skin

eyedrops used in the topical treatment of glaucoma

topically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb