# medicine

/ˈmɛdəsən/ (US) · /mˈɛdsən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/medicine
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. a drug or treatment

noun · CEFR A2

a substance like a pill or liquid that you take to feel better when you are sick.

For teachers: a pharmaceutical substance or preparation used in the treatment or prevention of disease.

- The doctor told him to take the medicine twice a day after meals.
- The patient showed significant improvement after completing the full course of prescribed medicine, despite initial concerns about side effects.

### 2. the field of study

noun · CEFR B1 · Academic

the study of how to treat illnesses and keep people healthy.

For teachers: the science and academic discipline concerned with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.

- She wants to study medicine at university and become a surgeon.
- Advances in modern medicine have dramatically increased life expectancy by eradicating several previously fatal infectious diseases.

### 3. the profession

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the job or work of being a doctor.

For teachers: the professional practice of physicians and surgeons as a collective career path.

- He has spent over thirty years practicing medicine in rural communities.
- The ethics of medicine require practitioners to prioritize patient welfare above all other professional considerations.

### 4. spiritual or ritual power

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

traditional or magical objects and rituals used by some cultures for healing or protection.

For teachers: ritual magic or sacred objects used in traditional cultures, particularly among Native American peoples, to influence natural or spiritual forces.

- The tribe used a medicine bag to carry sacred items for protection.
- The anthropologist documented how the community's traditional medicine integrated herbal remedies with complex spiritual ceremonies.

### 5. unpleasant but necessary experience

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

something difficult or unpleasant that you must accept because it will help you later.

For teachers: an unpleasant consequence or experience that is perceived as necessary for improvement or correction.

- He didn't like the criticism, but he knew he had to take his medicine.
- After the scandal, the company had to take its medicine and pay the heavy fines imposed by the regulator.

Usage: Often used in the idiom 'to take one's medicine'.

## Examples

- You should take your medicine after you eat breakfast.
- The doctor prescribed a liquid medicine to help soothe her cough and lower her fever.
- Advances in modern medicine have significantly increased life expectancy by eradicating diseases that were once considered fatal to the general population.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.