medicinal
B2Formal, technical, semi-formal
Definition
Meaning
Having healing properties; used as medicine.
Relating to or having the properties of a medicine; beneficial to health; also used figuratively to describe something that has a soothing or restorative effect.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an adjective describing substances, plants, or properties. Can be used literally (physical healing) or metaphorically (emotional/psychological benefit).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/conservative in UK English; more readily used in marketing/commercial contexts in US English (e.g., 'medicinal qualities').
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties. Slightly higher in UK due to traditional herbalism references.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
be + medicinalhave + medicinal + propertiesuse + something + for + medicinal + purposesbe + of + medicinal + valueVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a medicinal dram (of whisky)”
- “take it for medicinal purposes (humorous)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in marketing for health products, supplements, and cosmetics (e.g., 'contains medicinal plant extracts').
Academic
Common in pharmacology, botany, ethnobotany, and medical history papers.
Everyday
Describing home remedies, herbal teas, or over-the-counter products.
Technical
Precise term in regulatory, pharmaceutical, and herbal medicine contexts denoting intended use.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb)
American English
- (Not standard as a verb)
adverb
British English
- (Rarely used. 'Medicinally' is the standard form.)
American English
- (Rarely used. 'Medicinally' is the standard form.)
adjective
British English
- The garden was full of medicinal herbs like lavender and chamomile.
- He kept a small bottle of whisky for purely medicinal reasons.
American English
- Aloe vera is prized for its medicinal properties.
- Some cultures use honey for its medicinal benefits.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This plant is medicinal.
- People use it for medicine.
- Many plants have medicinal properties.
- She drinks herbal tea for medicinal purposes.
- Traditional knowledge often includes the medicinal uses of local flora.
- The study confirmed the plant's medicinal value in treating inflammation.
- The pharmacopoeia catalogues hundreds of substances with proven medicinal efficacy.
- His apology had a medicinal effect on the strained relationship.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MEDICINE + AL. If it's related to medicine, it's medicinal.
Conceptual Metaphor
HEALTH IS A SUBSTANCE (e.g., 'The walk was medicinal for my mood').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'медицинский' which means 'medical' (related to the profession). Use 'лекарственный' or 'целебный'.
- Do not confuse with 'medical' (e.g., medical advice, medical school).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'medical' instead of 'medicinal' (e.g., 'This plant has medical properties'*).
- Misspelling as 'medicinal' (double 'c').
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'medicinal' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Medical' relates to the science or practice of medicine as a profession (e.g., medical school, medical advice). 'Medicinal' describes something that has healing properties or is used as a remedy (e.g., medicinal plants).
Yes, figuratively. For example, 'a medicinal holiday' or 'medicinal laughter' suggests something that restores well-being mentally or emotionally.
It is a standard adverb (e.g., 'used medicinally') but is less frequent than the adjective. It is more common in technical or formal writing.
'Medicinal properties' is a very strong and common collocation, especially in scientific and commercial contexts.