Clinical

Definition

Clinical refers to anything related to the observation and treatment of patients, especially in a medical or healthcare setting. It can also describe something that is detached, unemotional, or purely based on facts and observation.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈklɪnɪkəl/
• Respelling: KLIN-ih-kuhl

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈklɪnɪkəl/
• Respelling: KLIN-ih-kuhl

The pronunciation of "clinical" is the same in both American and British English, with minor variations in accent.

Etymology

The word "clinical" is derived from the late 18th century, from the Greek word "klinikos," which means "of the bed." This was originally used in a medical sense, referring to patients treated in bed, which evolved into the modern meaning related to medical practice and observation.

Derivatives

• Clinician (noun)
• Clinically (adverb)
• Clinical trial (noun)
• Clinical medicine (noun)
• Clinical psychology (noun)

Synonyms

• Medical
• Therapeutic
• Objective

Antonyms

• Nonmedical
• Emotional
• Subjective

Usage

The term "clinical" is frequently used in medical contexts to describe environments, procedures, and approaches that are related to patient care, such as "clinical trials," "clinical diagnosis," and "clinical settings." It can also describe an impersonal or detached manner, as in a "clinical assessment" that is purely factual and devoid of emotion.

Related Terms

• Pathology: The study of diseases and the changes they cause in the body.
• Diagnosis: The identification of the nature and cause of an illness or other problem.
• Therapy: Treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder.

Detailed Definitions

Adjective

• Related to medical treatment and observation: Describes anything pertaining to the direct care of patients or the detailed study of their conditions.
  • Example: "She works in a clinical environment, conducting clinical trials."
• Detached and unemotional: Refers to an approach or manner that is purely objective and not influenced by emotions.
  • Example: "The report was clinical in its analysis, without any emotional language."