ambulatory

UK: /ˈæmbjʊlətərɪ/

US: /ˈæmbjələˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/

US: (am′byə lə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē)

Inflections of 'ambulatory' (n): npl: ambulatories

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

am•bu•la•to•ry /ˈæmbyələˌtɔri, -ˌtoʊri/   adj. 

1. capable of walking or moving about from place to place:
   The patient was ambulatory after bed rest.

See -ambl-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

am•bu•la•to•ry  (am′byə lə tôr′ē, -tōr′ē), adj., n., pl. -ries. 
adj. 

1. of, pertaining to, or capable of walking:
   an ambulatory exploration of the countryside.
2. adapted for walking, as the limbs of many animals.
3. moving about or from place to place;
   not stationary:
   an ambulatory tribe.
4. Also, ambulant. [Med.]
   • Medicine not confined to bed;
     able or strong enough to walk:
     an ambulatory patient.
   • Medicine serving patients who are able to walk:
     an ambulatory care center.
5. Law not fixed;
   alterable or revocable:
   ambulatory will.

n. 

6. Architecture Also called deambulatory. 
   • an aisle surrounding the end of the choir or chancel of a church.
   • the covered walk of a cloister.

• Latin ambulātōrius, equivalent. to ambulā-, stem of ambulāre (see amble) + -tōrius tory¹
• 1615–25

am′bu•la•to′ri•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

ambulatory / ˈæmbjʊlətərɪ/ adjective

1. of, relating to, or designed for walking
2. changing position; not fixed
3. Also: ambulant able to walk

noun ( -ries)

1. a place for walking, such as an aisle or a cloister