Words / B1

MED-ikl/ˈmedɪkl/

Medical is about doctors, illness, and treatment: medical advice; a medical certificate; medical research. Health is wider (including fitness and public health). A medical can be a noun (a check-up). Medicine is the field or the drug. Do not use medical for a gym workout — that is fitness. Sick note in UK speech often means a medical certificate.

Meaning

Connected with illness, treatment, and doctors.

Examples

• “You need a medical certificate if you miss more than a week of work.”
• “Bring a medical certificate if you miss more than seven days of work.”
• “She went to medical school, which is the training sense, not a tablet.”

Good to know

medical advice / certificate / research. Wider: health. Noun: a medical (check-up). Drug/field: medicine. Gym ≠ medical.

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