What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
clinical
Example
The doctor works in a clinical setting, where they treat patients with various medical conditions. [clinical: adjective]
Example
She conducted a clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of the new medication. [clinical: noun]
medical
Example
He is pursuing a career in the medical field and wants to become a doctor. [medical: adjective]
Example
The patient underwent a series of medical tests to determine the cause of their symptoms. [medical: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Medical is more commonly used than clinical in everyday language. Medical is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while clinical is more specialized and typically used in specific healthcare-related contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between clinical and medical?
While both clinical and medical can be used in formal and informal contexts, clinical can sometimes have a more formal or technical connotation due to its association with healthcare settings and practices.
