What does medicinally mean?
Medinally means in a way connected with medicine, healing, or therapeutic treatment. It is most often used when describing a plant, substance, or historical practice that serves as a remedy, as in a statement that an herb was used medicinally. The word emphasizes the medical purpose of an action or substance rather than merely its relationship to the broader field of medicine. Consequently, medicinally is more precise than medically in contexts involving treatment, although both words can sometimes appear in similar sentences. The adverb is especially associated with traditional and herbal remedies, where it may describe a long-standing use without making a claim about the remedy's safety or effectiveness. It is generally formal and technical, making it appropriate for reference works, scholarly writing, product descriptions, and informed discussion, but less common in everyday conversation.
adverbIn a way relating to medicine or medical treatment, especially for therapeutic benefit. It describes something used or taken as a remedy.
- In or according to a medical or therapeutic context, especially as a treatment or remedy.
"The plant has traditionally been used medicinally to relieve minor digestive discomfort."
"The bark was used medicinally long before its chemical properties were understood."
"Some substances marketed as supplements are recommended medicinally only under professional supervision."
Something can be medicinal in origin yet medicinally useless—the word specifies the therapeutic context rather than the effect.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does medicinally come from?
Medicinally was formed in English with the suffix -ally from medicinal. Medicinal derives from Latin medicinalis, meaning pertaining to healing or physicians, ultimately connected with Latin medicus, meaning physician or healer. The same broad Latin root also underlies medical, medicine, and medic.
How medicinally is actually used
The adverb is formal and technical in tone. It is especially common in discussions of plants, substances, and traditional remedies.
Easily confused with medicinally
Medicinally emphasizes use as a medicine or remedy, whereas medically can relate to medicine or medical practice more generally.