bronchial

adjective

bron·​chi·​al ˈbräŋ-kē-əl How to pronounce bronchial (audio)
: of or relating to the bronchi or their ramifications in the lungs
bronchially
ˈbräŋ-kē-ə-lē How to pronounce bronchial (audio)
adverb

Examples of bronchial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
She was diagnosed as having bronchial pneumonia and spent the next two weeks in bed. — Jim Shepard, New Yorker, 8 June 2025 Francis' health had taken a turn for the worse on Friday, due to a bronchial spasm that caused him to inhale vomit, requiring noninvasive mechanical ventilation. — Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025 After the bronchial spasm, doctors aspirated the vomit and placed Francis on noninvasive mechanical ventilation, a mask that pumps oxygen into his lungs. — Nicole Winfield and Giovanna Dell’orto, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025 Notably, Manilow had to cancel his opening weekend of his Las Vegas residency in June 2018 when he was hospitalized with a bronchial infection. — Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 23 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bronchial

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin bronchiālis, from Late Latin bronchium "branch of a bronchus, bronchial tube" (borrowed from Greek brónchion, diminutive of brónchos "throat, trachea") + Latin -ālis -al entry 1 — more at bronchus

First Known Use

circa 1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bronchial was circa 1703

Phrases Containing bronchial

Rhymes for bronchial

See All Rhymes for bronchial

Browse Nearby Words

bronchi-
bronchial
bronchial asthma
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bronchial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bronchial. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

bronchial

adjective
bron·​chi·​al ˈbräŋ-kē-əl How to pronounce bronchial (audio)
: of, relating to, or involving the bronchi or their branches

Medical Definition

bronchial

adjective
bron·​chi·​al ˈbräŋ-kē-əl How to pronounce bronchial (audio)
: of or relating to the bronchi or their ramifications in the lungs
bronchially
-ə-lē How to pronounce bronchial (audio)
adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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