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
: a spinal anesthetic
Examples of spinal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Static Bird Dog This bird dog variation challenges several complex core muscles, including the rectus abdominis (six-pack), obliques, transverse abdominis (deep ab muscle), and spinal erectors (vertical back muscles that run down the spine and support posture and movement).
—Jakob Roze, Health, 26 Feb. 2025
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Pain experts also developed procedures to mitigate chronic spinal or neck pain by administering steroids (rather than a narcotic) to ease inflammation.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spinal
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Adjective
Morrison also injured her hip and shoulder, according to Kruse, but the fracture brought on a spinal deformity and chronic pain.
—Julia Gomez, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2025
Static Bird Dog This bird dog variation challenges several complex core muscles, including the rectus abdominis (six-pack), obliques, transverse abdominis (deep ab muscle), and spinal erectors (vertical back muscles that run down the spine and support posture and movement).
—Jakob Roze, Health, 26 Feb. 2025
Noun
Stand up straight with your shoulders back, core engaged, and natural spinal alignment.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Pain experts also developed procedures to mitigate chronic spinal or neck pain by administering steroids (rather than a narcotic) to ease inflammation.
—Stephen C. George, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spinal
Cite this Entry
“Spinal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal. Accessed 6 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
spinal
1 of 2 adjective
spi·nal
ˈspīn-ᵊl 
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
spinal
2 of 2 noun
: a spinal anesthetic
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