topical
adj.adj. describing something that is applied directly to a specific part of the body, like a cream on your skin. It can also describe a topic that is relevant to what is happening in the news right now.
adj. relating to a particular part of the body, especially when applied externally to the skin; also refers to subjects of current interest or relevance. Often used in medical contexts to distinguish from systemic treatments.
You should apply this topical cream twice a day.
The doctor prescribed a topical ointment to treat the rash without affecting the rest of the patient's system.
While the speaker's anecdotes were certainly topical and engaged the audience's interest in current events, the core of the lecture remained focused on historical precedents.
From topic + -al.
In medical contexts, it typically precedes the noun it modifies; in general contexts, it can follow a linking verb.
the topical of the newsthe topic of the newsLearners often confuse the adjective 'topical' with the noun 'topic'.