renal
adj.adj. relating to your kidneys. Doctors use this word when talking about how these organs work or if there is a medical problem with them.
adj. relating to or affecting the kidneys. Typically used in medical or biological contexts to describe physiological functions or pathological conditions.
The patient is suffering from renal failure.
The doctor ordered a renal ultrasound to check if the kidneys were functioning properly after the surgery.
Chronic renal disease often requires a strict diet to manage the levels of minerals and fluids that the kidneys can no longer filter effectively.
Learned borrowing from Late Latin renalis, from Latin rēnēs (“kidneys”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used attributively before a noun in medical terminology.
Last updated May 6, 2026