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Definition of orthopedic

orthopedic

/ˌɔːr.θəˈpiː.dɪk/
(UK: orthopaedic)
or · tho · pe · dic
Adverb:orthopedically
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orthopedic Lexical Profile

orthopedic Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

American Relating to the branch of medicine focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and correction of disorders and injuries of the bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles.

Example

"Following the skiing accident, she was referred to an orthopedic surgeon to repair her torn knee ligament."

2

American Designed to support the skeletal system, align posture, or relieve joint and muscle pain (especially of footwear, mattresses, or braces).

Example

"The physical therapist recommended wearing orthopedic shoes to alleviate his chronic lower back pain."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for orthopedic

Word Nuance & Usage

Spelled 'orthopedic' in American English and 'orthopaedic' in British English; because the second element derives from Greek 'pais' (child) rather than Latin 'pes' (foot), the term encompasses the entire musculoskeletal system rather than just the feet (unlike 'podiatric').

• Rhymes for orthopedic

• Nearby Words

orthodoxy
orthomyxovirus
orthonyx
orthopedic
orthopedically
orthopedics
orthopedist

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in French as 'orthopédie' in 1741 by physician Nicolas Andry from Ancient Greek 'orthos' (straight, correct) and 'paideia' (rearing of children, from 'pais', child), as the field originally focused on correcting skeletal deformities in children.

Cite this Entry

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