clinical
gb/klˈɪnɪkəl/ us/klˈɪnɪkəl/
B2
English
~ 2800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
relating to patient care
About the work of doctors or nurses when they look after sick people.
Usage pattern:
[adjective] + [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'clinical' with 'clinic', but 'clinical' is an adjective, not a place.
Synonyms
medical (Broader term that includes all aspects of medicine, not just direct patient care.)
Antonyms
nonclinical (Refers to work or settings not involving direct patient care, such as laboratory research.)
Collocations
clinical trial
|clinical practice
|clinical diagnosis
|clinical care
|clinical setting
Themes
medicine
|healthcare
|science
|health
|work
Examples
- The doctor is involved in clinical research on new cancer treatments.
- She gained clinical experience during her hospital internship.
- The clinical team will review your test results.
Learner examples
- I had a clinical check at the hospital.
- He works in a clinical job at the clinic.
- The nurse has a lot of clinical experience.
adjective
B2
property
2
cold and detached manner
Saying or doing something in a very calm way without showing feelings.
Usage pattern:
[adjective] + [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'clinical' here means 'medical', but it can also mean 'emotionless'. Context is important.
Synonyms
detached (Focuses on emotional distance, but not necessarily factual precision.)
Antonyms
emotional (Shows strong feelings instead of being objective and detached.)
Collocations
clinical tone
|clinical description
|clinical approach
Themes
communication
|behavior
|emotions
Examples
- He gave a clinical analysis of the accident.
- Her report was clear but almost too clinical in tone.
- The review was written in a clinical and detached style.
Learner examples
- She spoke in a clinical way about the problem.
- His words were clinical and without feeling.
- The teacher's feedback was clear but clinical.
adjective
technical
C1
property
3
based on patient observation
Using real patients to study an illness or treatment, not just theories or lab tests.
Usage pattern:
[adjective] + [noun]
Synonyms
practical (Suggests hands-on experience but is broader and not limited to medicine.)
Antonyms
theoretical (Based on ideas and models rather than direct patient experience.)
Collocations
clinical evidence
|clinical data
|clinical observation
Themes
medicine
|research
|health
|science
Examples
- The drug's effectiveness was supported by strong clinical evidence.
- Clinical data show that the treatment reduces symptoms significantly.
- His conclusions are based on years of clinical observation.
Learner examples
- The doctors used clinical data to make the decision.
- We have clinical proof that the drug works.
- She is doing clinical research with real patients.
Grammar
Dictionary form
clinical
IPA
GB/klˈɪnɪkəl/
US/klˈɪnɪkəl/
Syllables & stress
clin - ic - al (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (clin)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: clinical
Word family
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
nonclinical
adjective
Advanced or less common
preclinical
adjective
subclinical
adjective
Expressions
clinical depression
1/klˈɪnɪkəl dɪpɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
medically diagnosed depression disorder
A serious kind of sadness that lasts a long time and is diagnosed by a doctor.
Examples
- She was diagnosed with clinical depression last year.
- Clinical depression can be treated with therapy and medication.
clinical setting
1/klˈɪnɪkəl sˈɛtɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
healthcare environment for patient care
A place like a hospital or clinic where doctors see and treat patients.
Examples
- Students gain experience working in a clinical setting.
- Good communication is important in any clinical setting.
clinical trial
1/klˈɪnɪkəl tɹˈaɪl/
fixed phrase
technical
medical research study with patients
A research test where doctors try a new medicine or treatment on people to see if it works and is safe.
Examples
- The new vaccine is now in phase three of its clinical trial.
- Clinical trials are essential before a drug can be approved.