WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
top•i•cal /ˈtɑpɪkəl/USA pronunciation
adj.
top•i•cal•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- of or relating to matters of current or local interest.
- Medicineon the skin or external surface:a topical ointment.
top•i•cal•ly, adv.
top•i•cal
(top′i kəl),USA pronunciation adj.
n.
top ′i•cal•ly, adv.
- pertaining to or dealing with matters of current or local interest:a topical reference.
- pertaining to the subject of a discourse, composition, or the like.
- of a place;
local. - [Med.]of, pertaining to, or applied externally to a particular part of the body;
local:a topical anesthetic.
n.
- Stamps[Philately.]any of a collection of different stamps treating the same subject.
- Greek topik(ós) local, pertaining to commonplaces (see topo-, -ic) + -al1
- 1580–90
'topically' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
atenolol
- atropine
- bacitracin
- diphenhydramine
- idoxuridine
- juniper tar
- mafenide
- minoxidil
- tolnaftate