Surgical: meaning, definitions and examples

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surgical

 

[ ˈsɜːrdʒɪkəl ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

medical

Relating to or used in surgery.

Synonyms

medical, operating, operative.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
surgical

Used when referring to procedures or practices that involve surgery.

  • He underwent a surgical procedure to repair his knee
  • The surgical team was well-prepared for the complex operation
medical

Broadly applies to anything related to the practice or study of medicine, including both surgical and non-surgical aspects.

  • She is a medical student
  • They provided medical assistance to the injured passengers
operating

Typically refers to the setting or environment where surgery is performed, such as an operating room. It can also describe the action of performing surgery.

  • The operation took place in a state-of-the-art operating room
  • He has been operating for over ten years as a heart surgeon
operative

Describes something related to or resulting from a surgical operation. Often used in technical or formal contexts and can also describe something effectively functioning.

  • The surgeon discussed the operative techniques before the procedure
  • The plan became operative last week

Examples of usage

  • The patient underwent a surgical procedure to remove the tumor.
  • The surgeon used a variety of surgical tools during the operation.
  • The hospital has a specialized surgical unit for complex cases.
Context #2 | Adjective

figurative

Precise and accurate, as if done with surgical precision.

Synonyms

accurate, meticulous, precise.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
surgical

Best used in situations requiring extreme precision and delicacy, often in a medical or technical context.

  • A surgical strike was carried out to minimize collateral damage.
  • The surgeon's hands were surgical in their precision.
precise

Useful when emphasizing exactness or accuracy, often interchanging with 'accurate', but can also imply strictness.

  • He gave a precise account of the events.
  • The instructions need to be precise so there's no confusion.
accurate

Appropriate when describing something that is correct or exact in all details, often related to measures, facts, or data.

  • The scientist provided accurate measurements in the report.
  • Your answer to the math problem is accurate.
meticulous

Ideal for describing actions or behaviors that show great attention to detail, often implying dedication and conscientiousness.

  • She is always meticulous when it comes to her research.
  • The artist's work is known for its meticulous detail.

Examples of usage

  • The journalist's surgical analysis of the political situation impressed the audience.
  • The team executed their plan with surgical precision, achieving the desired outcome.
  • Her surgical strike against the opponent's argument left him speechless.

Translations

Translations of the word "surgical" in other languages:

🇵🇹 cirúrgico

🇮🇳 शल्य चिकित्सा संबंधी

🇩🇪 chirurgisch

🇮🇩 bedah

🇺🇦 хірургічний

🇵🇱 chirurgiczny

🇯🇵 外科の

🇫🇷 chirurgical

🇪🇸 quirúrgico

🇹🇷 cerrahi

🇰🇷 수술의

🇸🇦 جراحي

🇨🇿 chirurgický

🇸🇰 chirurgický

🇨🇳 外科的

🇸🇮 kirurški

🇮🇸 skurðaðgerðar-

🇰🇿 хирургиялық

🇬🇪 ქირურგიული

🇦🇿 cərrahi

🇲🇽 quirúrgico

Etymology

The word 'surgical' originates from the Latin word 'surgicalis', which means 'of or pertaining to surgery'. The term has been used in the medical field for centuries to describe anything related to surgical procedures. Over time, 'surgical' has also been adapted in a figurative sense to describe actions or analyses that are precise, accurate, and effective, similar to the precision required in surgery.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,246, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.