medicine

medicine — noun

1. the science and practice of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease and inj

1.nounA2
Definition

the science and practice of preventing, diagnosing, and treating disease and injury; the study of how to keep people healthy and help them recover when they are sick

Example

Stefan decided to study medicine at the university in Kaohsiung.

study medicine — collocation for academic study

Modern medicine has found new ways to treat lung cancer and other diseases.

Common collocations
  • study medicine
  • practice medicine
  • modern medicine
  • advances in medicine
  • emergency medicine
  • preventive medicine
  • internal medicine
  • conventional medicine
  • alternative medicine
Synonyms
  • healthcare

    broader term that includes nursing, public health, and allied professions alongside medicine

  • medical science

    more formal, emphasises the scientific research rather than clinical practice

  • healing

    less scientific, more traditional or spiritual connotation

Grammar Patterns

study + medicine

practice + medicine

Usage Note

Uncountable in this sense — you cannot say 'a medicine' or 'medicines' when referring to the field or profession. Frequently occurs in academic contexts with 'study', 'practice', 'advances in', and 'modern'.

Common Mistakes

She studies a medicine at university.
She studies medicine at university.
the field of study is uncountable, so no article is used.
He practiced medicines for twenty years.
He practiced medicine for twenty years.
'medicine' meaning the profession is uncountable.

2. a substance — such as a pill, syrup, cream, or injection — that people take or u

2.nounA2
Definition

a substance — such as a pill, syrup, cream, or injection — that people take or use to cure a disease, treat an injury, or relieve symptoms

Example

The nurse gave Tunde a spoonful of medicine for his fever.

medicine + for + [symptom] — purpose pattern

Did you remember to take your allergy medicine before breakfast?

take + possessive + medicine — daily routine

Common collocations
  • take medicine
  • medicine for a cold
  • liquid medicine
  • herbal medicine
  • prescription medicine
  • over-the-counter medicine
  • cold medicine
  • cough medicine
  • dose of medicine
Synonyms
  • medication

    slightly more formal, common in medical settings; interchangeable in most contexts

  • drug

    broader; includes illegal substances and non-medicinal chemicals; can be misleading outside medical contexts

  • remedy

    may refer to traditional or home treatments, not only pharmaceutical products

  • pill

    specific to tablet form; not a synonym for liquid or cream medicine

Antonyms
  • poison

    a substance that harms rather than heals

Grammar Patterns

take + medicine

medicine + for + [illness]

Usage Note

Can be countable ('a medicine', 'different medicines') when referring to specific types or doses. Uncountable ('some medicine', 'a lot of medicine') when talking about the substance generally. 'Take your medicine' is both literal and the source of a common idiom (see Idioms below).

Common Mistakes

I need to drink my medicine.
I need to take my medicine.
'drink' is only for liquids; 'take' works for pills, syrups, injections, and creams.
He has a medicine for his cough — it is a syrup.
He has some medicine for his cough
it is a syrup.' — when referring to a general substance, use the uncountable form.
Idioms

take your medicine

idiom

to accept and deal with an unpleasant situation or punishment that you deserve, without complaining

Tamar broke her brother's tablet and knew she had to take her medicine when their mother came home.

The team played badly all season, and now they must take their medicine by missing the playoffs.

a taste of your own medicine

idiom

the same unpleasant treatment that you have given to other people, now given back to you

The bully kept teasing younger kids until the teacher gave him a taste of his own medicine.

After years of interrupting others in meetings, Indra got a taste of her own medicine when nobody would let her speak.

laughter is the best medicine

idiom

being happy and laughing is a very good way to feel better when you are sick or sad

After a long hospital stay, Grandma said that the comedy show proved laughter is the best medicine.

When Dahlia felt homesick, her friends told funny stories — and laughter was the best medicine.

the best medicine

idiom

The most effective way to make a bad situation better or to feel happier.

For Min, a long walk in the park is the best medicine.

After a stressful day, laughter truly is the best medicine.

a taste/dose of your own medicine

idiom

The same unpleasant treatment that you have given to others, now given back to you.

Sara gave the rude waiter a taste of his own medicine.

Did the boss finally get a dose of his own medicine?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words relate to keeping people healthy, but they differ in scope and register. 'Medicine' is the broadest, covering both the scientific study and the clinical practice of treating disease. 'Healthcare' is wider still — it includes nursing, dentistry, public health, hospital administration, and the entire system around patient care. 'Medical science' is more academic, focusing on research, laboratory findings, and evidence-based knowledge rather than hands-on treatment. 'Healing' has a traditional or spiritual tone; it can mean recovery through non-medical means such as rest, prayer, or herbal remedies. For example: 'She studies medicine and hopes to become a surgeon.' 'The government is investing more in healthcare, including hospitals and clinics.' 'Medical science has proven that vaccines save lives.' 'Traditional healing methods are still used in some villages.'

medicine ↗healthcare ↗medical sciencehealing ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

Prepositions

  • medicine for [illness]
  • medicine in [form/location]

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

From Latin 'medicina' (the art of healing), from 'medicus' (a physician or healer). The word entered English through Old French 'medecine' in the 13th century, originally referring to the healing art itself. The sense of a specific substance or remedy appeared by the 14th century. The root 'med-' relates to 'medērī' (to heal, to give medical attention), which is also the source of words like 'remedy' and 'medical'.