physical en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- /ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl/ (Australia, Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
- (US) audio
- [ˈfɪz.ɪ.kəl] ~ [ˈfɪz.ɪ.kl̩] (Australia, Canada, General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin physicālis, from Latin physica (“study of nature”), from Ancient Greek φυσική (phusikḗ), feminine singular of φυσικός (phusikós, “natural; physical”), from φύσις (phúsis, “origin, birth; nature, quality; form, shape; type, kind”), from φῠ́ω (phŭ́ō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).
Meanings
- (obsolete) Of medicine. ▸ Pertaining to the field of medicine; medical.
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(obsolete) Of medicine. ▸ That practises medicine; pertaining to doctors, physicianly.
Her father was thrown from his horse, when his blood was in a very inflammatory state, and the bruises were very dangerous; his recovery was not expected by the physical tribe.
1788, Mary Wollstonecraft, Mary: A Fiction:
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(obsolete) Of medicine. ▸ Medicinal; good for the health, curative, therapeutic.
Phisicall [translating φαρμακώδεις (pharmakṓdeis)] herbes, as Helleborum, Lingewort, or Beares foote.
1579, Thomas North, translating Pliny, Parallel LivesIs Brutus sick? and is it physical / To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours / Of the dank morning?
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]:
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Of matter and nature. ▸ Pertaining to the world as understood through the senses rather than the mind, having to do with the material world.
It's not so much a physical place as a state of mind.
Labour, then, in the physical world, is […] employed in putting objects in motion.
1848, John Stuart Mill, Principles of Political Economy: With Some of Their Applications to Social Philosophy. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: John W[illiam] Parker, […], →OCLC:In America alone, people spent $170 billion on “direct marketing”—junk mail of both the physical and electronic varieties—last year. Yet of those who received unsolicited adverts through the post, only 3% bought anything as a result.
2013 May 25, “No hiding place”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8837, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2023, page 74:
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Of matter and nature. ▸ In accordance with the laws of nature; now specifically, pertaining to physics.
The substance has a number of interesting physical properties.
Some of the most beautiful and thus appealing physical theories, including quantum electrodynamics and quantum gravity, have been dogged for decades by infinities that erupt when theorists try to prod their calculations into new domains.
2012 January 14, Michael Riordan, “Tackling Infinity”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 1, archived from the original on 30 Apr 2013, page 86:
- Of matter and nature. ▸ Denoting a map showing natural features of the landscape (compare political).
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Of the human body. ▸ Having to do with the body as opposed to the mind; corporeal, bodily.
A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.
1849–1861, Thomas Babington Macaulay, chapter I, in The History of England from the Accession of James the Second, volume (please specify |volume=I to V), London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longmans, →OCLC:Are you feeling any physical effects?
Insults can hurt a lot more than physical injuries.
In mild cases of hypergonadism prior to puberty, the onset of physical and mood changes may not be abnormally early or significant enough to cause any psychological or long-term physical complications.
2018 June 25, James Roland, “What is Hypergonadism?”, in Healthline, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2025:
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Of the human body. ▸ Sexual, carnal.
to get physical
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Of the human body. ▸ Involving bodily force or contact; vigorous, aggressive.
This team plays a very physical game, so watch out.
Hardy is perfect. He’s physical and monosyllabic.
2017 December 1, Tom Breihan, “Mad Max: Fury Road might already be the best action movie ever made”, in The Onion AV Club, archived from the original on 07 Mar 2022:
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Of a piece of media, existing as a tangible object instead of being digital.
There is just something so amazing about reading a physical book as compared to an e-book.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| more physical | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| most physical | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| physickal | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic |
Antonyms
mental · having to do with the mind · psychical · spiritual · psychological · spirit viewed as distinct from body
Deriveds
agrophysical · physical love · physical plant · physical theatre · neurophysical · ethicophysical · mechanophysical · physical therapy · physical person · iatrophysical · chemophysical · robophysical · protophysical · physical constant · physical quantity · hyperphysical · physical memory protection · physical relations · supraphysical · unphysical · get physical · physical distancing · physical law · physical plane · hydrophysical · cyberphysical · physical diagnosis · physicalism · physical geographer · physical world · barophysical · radiophysical · cataphysical · tribophysical · ultraphysical · physical state · physical examination · photophysical · physical exam · chemicophysical · stereophysical · aerophysical · physicalist · physical map · physical geography · ecophysical · microphysical · extraphysical · physical body · antiphysical · astrophysical · macrophysical · physical mediumship · physisorption · physical culture · physical break · petrophysical · psychophysical · physical chemistry · thermophysical · physical twin · physical education · paraphysical · physical science · phygital · physicalness · physical training · electrophysical · physical anthropology · physicalize · selenophysical · physicalization · physical unclonable function · nonphysical · pamphysical · physical page · sociophysical · physical finger · subphysical · physical system · geophysical · physical therapist · superphysical · physical comedy · zoophysical · physical change · biophysical
Relateds
physically · metaphysical · physics · physicality · physician
Synonyms
Translations (181)
eo fizika (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ro fiziologic (having to do with the body; corporeal) · he ממשי (having to do with the material world; tangible) · no fysisk (having to do with the material world; tangible) · fi fyysinen (involving bodily force; vigorous) · nl fysische (having to do with physics) · lv fizisks (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ia physic (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ja 肉体の (having to do with the body; corporeal) · sl fizičen (having to do with physics) · cy ffisegol (having to do with the material world; tangible) · tr fiziksel (having to do with physics) · ar فِيزِيَائِيّ (having to do with physics) · te శారీరకము (having to do with the body; corporeal) · el φυσικός (having to do with physics) · el σωματικός (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ang līchamlīċ (having to do with the body; corporeal) · hy ֆիզիկական (involving bodily force; vigorous) · he גופני (having to do with the body; corporeal) · et looduslik (having to do with the material world; tangible) · it fisico (having to do with the material world; tangible) · sh fìzičkī (having to do with physics) · mk физички (having to do with physics) · de kraftvoll (involving bodily force; vigorous) · cy ffisegol (having to do with physics) · fa فیزیکی (having to do with physics) · he פיזי (having to do with physics) · hy ֆիզիկական (having to do with the body; corporeal) · sv fysikalisk (having to do with physics) · ko 물리적(物理的)인 (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ga fisiciúil (having to do with physics) · nl fysisch (having to do with physics) · nl lichamelijk (having to do with the body; corporeal) · es físico (having to do with the material world; tangible) · sv fysisk (having to do with the body; corporeal) · nl ruwe (involving bodily force; vigorous) · ru физи́ческий (having to do with the material world; tangible) · nl fysisch (having to do with the material world; tangible) · hy մարմնական (having to do with the body; corporeal) · de materiell (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ro fizic (having to do with the body; corporeal) · mi whaikiko (having to do with the material world; tangible) · fi ruumiillinen (having to do with the body; corporeal) · eo korpa (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ro corporal (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ia physic (having to do with physics) · bg материа́лен (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ia physic (having to do with the material world; tangible) · fr physique (having to do with the body; corporeal) · pt físico (having to do with physics) · be фізі́чны (having to do with physics) · ro fiziologică (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ca físic (having to do with physics) · da fysisk (having to do with the body; corporeal) · bg теле́сен (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ang līchamlīċ (involving bodily force; vigorous) · he פיזי (having to do with the body; corporeal) · et füüsiline (having to do with the material world; tangible) · lv fizisks (involving bodily force; vigorous) · fr physique (having to do with the material world; tangible) · cy cnawdol (having to do with the body; corporeal) · mr भौतिक (having to do with the material world; tangible) · gl físico (having to do with the material world; tangible) · be фізы́чны (having to do with physics) · et kehaline (having to do with the body; corporeal) · pl fizyczny (having to do with physics) · uk фізи́чний (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ja 物理的な (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ja 物理的 (having to do with physics) · sv fysisk (having to do with the material world; tangible) · uk тіле́сний (having to do with the body; corporeal) · hy ֆիզիկական (having to do with physics) · nb fysikalsk (having to do with physics) · hy նյութական (having to do with the material world; tangible) · kk физикалық (having to do with physics) · id fisis (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ka მატერიალური (having to do with the material world; tangible) · cmn 身體的 /身体的 (having to do with the body; corporeal) · pt braçal (involving bodily force; vigorous) · be цяле́сны (having to do with the body; corporeal) · id jasmaniah (having to do with the body; corporeal) · es físico (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ro fizic (having to do with physics) · de physisch (having to do with the body; corporeal) · cmn 物理的 (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ko 신체(身體)의 (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ro material (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ro fizică (having to do with the material world; tangible) · fi fyysinen (having to do with the body; corporeal) · bg физи́чески (having to do with physics) · sh фѝзичкӣ (having to do with physics) · nl fysiek (having to do with the body; corporeal) · no fysisk (having to do with the body; corporeal) · wa fizike (having to do with the body; corporeal) · lv fizikāls (having to do with physics) · fr physique (having to do with physics) · no fysisk (involving bodily force; vigorous) · id fisik (having to do with the body; corporeal) · lv fizisks (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ko 육체(肉體)의 (having to do with the body; corporeal) · sk fyzický (having to do with physics) · oc fisic (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ar مَلْمُوس (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ru физи́ческий (having to do with physics) · kk физикалық (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ga fisiceach (having to do with physics) · pl fizyczny (having to do with the body; corporeal) · he פיזי (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ca físic (involving bodily force; vigorous) · tr fiziksel (having to do with the material world; tangible) · uk фізи́чний (having to do with physics) · de physisch (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ar بَدَنِيّ (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ar مَادِّيّ (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ca físic (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ro fizic (involving bodily force; vigorous) · et füüsikaline (having to do with physics) · gl físico (involving bodily force; vigorous) · hi शारीरिक (having to do with the body; corporeal) · mr शारीरिक (having to do with the body; corporeal) · id fisik (having to do with the material world; tangible) · pt físico (involving bodily force; vigorous) · wa fizike (having to do with physics) · gl físico (having to do with physics) · de körperbetont (involving bodily force; vigorous) · ka ფიზიკური (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ro fizic (having to do with the material world; tangible) · de physikalisch (having to do with physics) · fi voima- (involving bodily force; vigorous) · cmn 物理的 (having to do with physics) · tg физикӣ (having to do with physics) · ru теле́сный (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ru материа́льный (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ia physic (involving bodily force; vigorous) · oc fisic (having to do with the material world; tangible) · el σωματικός (involving bodily force; vigorous) · pt físico (having to do with the material world; tangible) · wa fizike (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ang līchamlīċ (having to do with the material world; tangible) · uk фізи́чний (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ko 물리적(物理的)인 (having to do with physics) · es físico (having to do with physics) · id badaniah (having to do with the body; corporeal) · nn fysikalsk (having to do with physics) · tr fiziki (having to do with physics) · cs tělesný (having to do with the body; corporeal) · lv fizikāls (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ka სხეულებრივი (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ga corpartha (having to do with the body; corporeal) · gl físico (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ga ábhartha (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ru физи́ческий (having to do with the body; corporeal) · et füüsiline (involving bodily force; vigorous) · pl cielesny (having to do with the body; corporeal) · et füüsiline (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ru физи́ческий (involving bodily force; vigorous) · hy ֆիզիկական (having to do with the material world; tangible) · el φυσικός (having to do with the material world; tangible) · fi fyysinen (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ka ფიზიკური (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ar جِسْمِيّ (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ca físic (having to do with the material world; tangible) · fi fysikaalinen (having to do with physics) · sv fysisk (involving bodily force; vigorous) · nl ruw (involving bodily force; vigorous) · ar مَحْسُوس (having to do with the material world; tangible) · te భౌతికము (having to do with the material world; tangible) · ka ფიზიკური (having to do with physics) · tr fiziki (having to do with the material world; tangible) · nl fysische (having to do with the material world; tangible) · de körperlich (having to do with the body; corporeal) · hu fizikai (having to do with the material world; tangible) · sk telesný (having to do with the body; corporeal) · ka სხეულებრივი (having to do with the body; corporeal) · cs fyzikální (having to do with physics) · de stofflich (having to do with the material world; tangible) · mi ōkiko (having to do with the material world; tangible) · pt físico (having to do with the body; corporeal) · fr physiologique (having to do with the body; corporeal) · pl fizyczny (having to do with the material world; tangible) · cmn 筋力的 (involving bodily force; vigorous)