clinical

clin-i-cal · adjective

imported

Definitions

adjective

  1. 1.

    Relating to the observation and treatment of patients rather than theoretical studies.

  2. 2.

    Relating to a clinic or hospital setting.

  3. 3.

    Coldly detached and analytical; unemotional.

  4. 4.

    Very efficient and without error.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    clinical trial — a controlled test of a medical treatment
  • •
    clinical depression — medically diagnosed depression
  • •
    clinical psychologist — a professional treating mental health issues
  • •
    clinical evidence — scientifically gathered medical data

Related words

Antonyms: emotional, personal, subjective, warm
See also: clinic, detached, medical, objective
Synonyms: detached, dispassionate, medical, objective

Etymology

From Greek "klinike" (bedside medical practice) via Latin "clinicus." The "-al" suffix forms an adjective meaning "relating to." The sense of coldness or detachment developed from the objective approach required in medical practice.