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Definition of medicine

medicine

/ˈmɛd.ə.sən/
med · i · cine
Adverb:medicinally
•
Plural:medicines
•
Adjective:medicinal
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medicine Lexical Profile

medicine Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

The science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease or injury.

Example

"After completing her undergraduate degree, she decided to study medicine to become a pediatrician."

2

A drug, chemical compound, or preparation used for the treatment or prevention of illness.

Example

"The pharmacist carefully explained the correct dosage for the cold medicine."

3

Something that serves as a corrective or remedy for a metaphorical ailment or problem.

Example

"Many believe that hearty laughter is the best medicine for a troubled mind."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for medicine
Antonyms
View all antonyms for medicine

Word Nuance & Usage

When referring to the scientific field, 'medicine' is generally uncountable; when referring to specific drugs or remedies, it functions as a countable noun.

• Rhymes for medicine

• Nearby Words

medication
medicinal
medicinally
medicine
medieval
medievalist
medigap

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old French 'medecine', derived from Latin 'medicina' (the healing art), from 'medicus' (physician), which traces back to the Indo-European root 'med-' (to take appropriate measures).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Medicine. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/medicine
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