topical

adjective

top·​i·​cal ˈtä-pi-kəl How to pronounce topical (audio)
1
a
: referring to the topics of the day or place : of local or temporary interest
a topical novel
topical references
b
: of, relating to, or arranged by topics
set down in topical form
2
: designed for or involving local application and action (as on the body)
a topical anesthetic
a topical remedy
topically
ˈtä-pi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce topical (audio)
adverb

Did you know?

Like a topical medicine, a topical reference or story applies to something specific, focusing on a topic that's currently in the news. TV comedians often use topical humor, making jokes about a currently popular movie or the latest political scandal—if possible, one that just broke that same day. Topical humor has a short lifespan, though, because the news keeps changing and the new hot topics just keep coming. The medical meaning of topical stays closer to the meaning of the root, since it describes something that's put right on the place that seems to need it.

Examples of topical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Quoin entered into a research agreement with the University College Cork to develop novel topical formulations of rapamycin for rare diseases, with funding commitments of approximately €567,000 over 2.5 years. —Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024 Home remedies and topical corticosteroids can manage most symptoms. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024 Kojic acid formulations are sometimes given as a topical adjuvant to hydroquinone treatment, the most common treatment for melasma. —Merve Ceylan, Health, 4 Nov. 2024 As some have noted, the topical focus does strike in me a weird moralizing twang — What’s up with that? —Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for topical 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of topical was circa 1525

Dictionary Entries Near topical

topic

topical

topicality

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Topical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topical. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

topical

adjective
top·​i·​cal ˈtäp-i-kəl How to pronounce topical (audio)
1
: designed to be applied to or to work on a specific place or part (as of the body)
a topical medicine
2
a
: of or relating to topics
topical outline
b
: referring to the topics of the day or place
topical jokes
topically
-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce topical (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

topical

adjective
top·​i·​cal ˈtäp-i-kəl How to pronounce topical (audio)
: designed for or involving application to or action on the surface of a part of the body
applied a topical anesthetic to numb the skin
eyedrops used in the topical treatment of glaucoma
topically
-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce topical (audio)
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on topical

Nglish: Translation of topical for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of topical for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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