medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈme-di-sən 
British usually
ˈmed-sən
1
a
: a substance or preparation used in treating disease
cough medicine
b
: something that affects well-being
he's bad medicine—
Zane Grey
Zane Grey2
a
: the science and art dealing with the maintenance of health and the prevention, alleviation, or cure of disease
She's interested in a career in medicine.
b
: the branch of medicine concerned with the nonsurgical treatment of disease
3
: a substance (such as a drug or potion) used to treat something other than disease
4
: an object held in traditional American Indian belief to give control over natural or magical forces
also
: magical power or a magical rite
medicine
transitive verb
Synonyms
Examples of medicine in a Sentence
He forgot to take his medicine.
Did you look in the medicine cabinet for a pain reliever?
Their research has led to many important advances in modern medicine.
She's interested in a career in medicine.
Recent Examples on the Web
The team says their research into anglerfish immune systems may one day inform advances in human health and medicine.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2024
Newsletters Sign up for Morning Rounds Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day
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Over half the world — 4.5 billion people — still do not have access to essential health services.
—Vanessa Kerry, STAT, 31 May 2024
Consider the grant approvals by the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s leading source of public grants in medicine.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024
But in the mountains, this combination is medicine.
—Krista Diamond, Longreads, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for medicine 
Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2024
Newsletters Sign up for Morning Rounds Understand how science, health policy, and medicine shape the world every day
Privacy Policy
Over half the world — 4.5 billion people — still do not have access to essential health services.
—Vanessa Kerry, STAT, 31 May 2024
Consider the grant approvals by the National Institutes of Health, the nation’s leading source of public grants in medicine.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2024
But in the mountains, this combination is medicine.
—Krista Diamond, Longreads, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for medicine
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'medicine.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Medicine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/medicine. Accessed 8 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
medicine
noun
med·i·cine
ˈmed-ə-sən
1
: a substance or preparation used in treating disease
2
: the science or art that deals with the prevention, cure, or easing of disease
especially
: the practice of the physician as it differs from that of the surgeon
3
: an object, power, or ceremony held to give control over natural or magical forces
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