Meaning & use
physical
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Connected with the body rather than the mind or feelings.
Grammar: Can sit before a noun or after a verb: physical strength; the work is physical.
Patterns
- physical exercise
- physical contact
Regular physical activity keeps you healthy.
The job is tiring and very physical.
She was in physical pain after the fall.
adjectivebefore a noun
Existing as a real object you can touch, as opposed to an idea or a digital version.
Grammar: Contrasts with online or abstract versions: a physical copy.
Patterns
- physical object
- physical evidence
There was no physical evidence at the scene.
I prefer a physical book to an e-reader.
The company has a physical store as well as a website.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Relating to the laws and materials of nature, as studied in physics or geography.
Grammar: Used in set phrases such as physical science or physical geography.
Patterns
- physical science
- physical properties
Density is a physical property of a material.
Physical geography covers mountains, rivers and climates.
The physical sciences include physics and chemistry.
nouncountableAmericaninformal
A medical check of someone's general health.
Grammar: A casual short form of physical examination; mainly American.
Patterns
- get a physical
- have a physical
I have to get a physical before I start the new job.
The coach required a physical for every player.
She passed her annual physical with no problems.
Word forms
| comparative | more physical |
|---|---|
| superlative | most physical |
| plural noun | physicals |
Common combinations
- physical activity
- Children need an hour of physical activity every day.
- physical health
- Sleep affects both mental and physical health.
- physical appearance
- Judging people by their physical appearance is unfair.
- physical contact
- The sport involves a lot of physical contact.
- physical examination
- The doctor ordered a full physical examination.
- physical education
- Physical education is taught twice a week.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bodily
- Bodily is more formal and used with words like harm or needs, while physical is far more common.
- material
- Material contrasts with spiritual and suggests matter and possessions, not the human body.
- tangible
- Tangible means able to be touched and, unlike physical, is often used for abstract results such as benefits.
- corporeal
- Corporeal is formal or literary and means having a body, not just involving it.
Opposites
Word family
- physically adverb
- in a way that involves the body
- physique noun
- the shape and size of someone's body
- physics noun
- the science of matter and energy
- physician noun
- a doctor
- physicality noun
- the quality of being physical
Commonly confused: physical or physics? physical or physician?
physical vs physics
Physics is the science of matter and energy, while physical is an adjective describing bodily or material things.
physical vs physician
A physician is a medical doctor, and the word has nothing to do with 'physical' as an adjective except sharing a root.
Practice
Choose the sentence in which 'physical' means a real object rather than a digital one.
Choose one answer.
A physical copy is something you can hold, in contrast to a download. The other sentences refer to the body or to a medical exam.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “physical”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.