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Definition of phial

phial

/ˈfaɪ.əl/
phi · al
Plural:phials
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phial Lexical Profile

phial Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, cylindrical glass or plastic bottle, typically used for storing liquid medicines, perfumes, or chemical samples.

Example

"The apothecary carefully measured the herbal extract into a tiny glass phial."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for phial

Word Nuance & Usage

"Phial" is a more literary and slightly older variant of "vial"; in modern scientific and medical contexts, "vial" is strongly preferred.

• Rhymes for phial

• Nearby Words

pheromone
phew
phi
phial
philadelphia
philadelphian
philadelphus

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English "phiale" or "viole", via Old French and Latin "phiala" from Ancient Greek "phialē", meaning a broad, flat bowl or drinking saucer.

Cite this Entry

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