WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
phys•i•cal /ˈfɪzɪkəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Physiology of or relating to the body:[before a noun]physical growth.
- of or relating to that which is material:[before a noun]the physical universe.
- sexual:a physical attraction.
- physically demonstrative;
showing one's feelings by touching another:She's not afraid to be physical and give her friends a hug. - requiring, having, or liking rough physical contact:Football is a very physical sport.
- Computingcontained in or being computer hardware:physical memory.
n. [countable]
- an examination of the body:I needed a complete physical because I was so run-down.
phys•i•cal
(fiz′i kəl),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
phys′i•cal•ly, adv.
phys′i•cal•ness, n.
- Physiologyof or pertaining to the body:physical exercise.
- of or pertaining to that which is material:the physical universe; the physical sciences.
- Physicsnoting or pertaining to the properties of matter and energy other than those peculiar to living matter.
- Physicspertaining to the physical sciences, esp. physics.
- carnal;
sexual:a physical attraction. - tending to touch, hug, pat, etc.;
physically demonstrative:a physical person. - requiring, characterized by, or liking rough physical contact or strenuous physical activity:Football is a physical sport.
n.
- See physical examination.
- Medieval Latin physicālis concerning medicine. See physic, -al1
- late Middle English 1400–50
phys′i•cal•ness, n.
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged somatic; fleshly. Physical, bodily, corporeal, corporal agree in pertaining to the body. Physical indicates connected with, pertaining to, the animal or human body as a material organism:physical strength, exercise.Bodily means belonging to, concerned with, the human body as distinct from the mind or spirit:bodily pain or suffering.Corporeal, a more poetic and philosophical word than bodily, refers esp. to the mortal substance of which the human body is composed as opposed to spirit:this corporeal habitation.Corporal is now usually reserved for reference to whippings and other punishments inflicted on the human body.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged tangible, palpable.
'physically disabled' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):