nonmedical
|non-med-i-cal|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑnˈmɛdɪkəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒnˈmɛdɪkəl/
not related to medicine
Etymology
'nonmedical' is formed by the productive English negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') attached to 'medical', which ultimately derives from Latin 'medicus' (physician) via Medieval Latin 'medicalis'.
'medical' entered English via Medieval Latin 'medicalis' (and Old French influence), meaning 'of physicians' or 'pertaining to medicine'; the compound with the prefix 'non-' to make 'nonmedical' arose in modern English usage (19th–20th century) as a straightforward negation meaning 'not medical'.
Originally 'medical' meant 'pertaining to physicians or medical practice'; 'nonmedical' initially signified simply 'not pertaining to medicine,' and its use has broadened to describe factors, roles, or interventions that are outside clinical/medical contexts (social, administrative, legal, etc.).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not relating to medicine, medical practice, or medical professionals; outside the scope of clinical or medical treatment.
Many public-health interventions address nonmedical factors such as housing, education, and employment.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 08:18