Etimology
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 (phúō, “grow”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- (“to appear, become, rise up”).
adjective
physical (comparative more physical, superlative most physical)
Of medicine.
Of matter and nature.
Of the human body.
Examples
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.
Phisicall [translating φαρμακώδεις ] herbes, as Helleborum, Lingewort, or Beares foote.
Is Brutus sick? and is it physical / To walk unbraced, and suck up the humours / Of the dank morning?
Labour, then, in the physical world, is […] employed in putting objects in motion.
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.
It's not so much a physical place as a state of mind.
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.
The substance has a number of interesting physical properties.
Are you feeling any physical effects?
A society sunk in ignorance, and ruled by mere physical force.
This team plays a very physical game, so watch out.
Related words
antonyms
mental, psychical, psychological, spiritual; having to do with the mind or spirit (or both) viewed as distinct from body.
related terms
metaphysical
physicality
physically
physician
physics
noun
physical (plural physicals)
Physical examination.
(parapsychology) A physical manifestation of psychic origin, as through ectoplasmic solidification.
Examples
Synonyms: checkup, check-up
How long has it been since your last physical?
"I don't mind readings and clairvoyance, but the physicals do try you."