pulmonary

pulmonary — adjective

1. having to do with the lungs, the two organs inside the chest that take in oxygen

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

having to do with the lungs, the two organs inside the chest that take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide as you breathe.

Example

Andrei's pulmonary condition requires him to see a specialist every three months.

pulmonary + noun (condition) — medical term for lung-related illness

The hospital's pulmonary ward is on the third floor, near the X-ray department.

pulmonary ward — hospital unit for lung patients

Common collocations
  • pulmonary disease
  • pulmonary infection
  • pulmonary function
  • pulmonary specialist
  • pulmonary ward
  • pulmonary artery
  • pulmonary vein
  • pulmonary fibrosis
  • pulmonary embolism
  • pulmonary oedema
Synonyms
  • lung (attributive noun)

    Everyday alternative; 'lung cancer' is more common in general speech than 'pulmonary cancer'.

  • respiratory

    Broader — refers to the entire breathing system (nose, throat, trachea, lungs), not just the lungs.

Grammar Patterns

pulmonary + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). Common in medical, clinical, and health-advice contexts. The everyday equivalent is the noun 'lung' (e.g., 'lung disease' for 'pulmonary disease').

Common Mistakes

The doctor said I have pulmonary.
The doctor said I have a pulmonary infection.
pulmonary is an adjective, not a noun; it must modify a noun.
He felt pain in his pulmonary.
He felt pain in his lung.
do not use pulmonary as a noun to refer to the lung itself.

Word family

  • pulmonology
    nounC1
  • pulmonologist
    nounC1
  • pneumonia
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All three relate to breathing, but they differ in scope and register. 'Pulmonary' is the formal medical term used in clinical writing, diagnoses, and anatomy — you see it in hospital reports and medical textbooks ('pulmonary fibrosis', 'pulmonary artery'). 'Respiratory' is broader, covering the entire breathing system from the nose down to the alveoli; a 'respiratory infection' could be a common cold, whereas a 'pulmonary infection' specifically affects the lungs. 'Lung' (used attributively) is the everyday English equivalent — native speakers say 'lung cancer' in conversation, not 'pulmonary cancer', and 'lung capacity' in gym class, not 'pulmonary capacity'. Choose 'pulmonary' for technical healthcare contexts, 'respiratory' when discussing the whole breathing system, and 'lung' for general speech.

pulmonary ↗respiratory ↗lung (attributive)

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pulmonary function test
  • pulmonary rehabilitation

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Comes from Latin 'pulmonarius' (meaning 'of the lungs'), which derived from 'pulmo' (lung). The English term was adopted through medical Latin in the 1600s and remains the primary adjective used in anatomy and clinical medicine.