connected with the body rather than the mind
Regular physical exercise keeps the heart healthy.
After hours of physical work in the garden, he wiped the sweat from his brow.
✦ From late Middle English, via medieval Latin physica ‘natural things’, from Greek phusikos ‘of nature’.
relating to real, material things that can be touched or seen
The museum lets visitors hold physical replicas of ancient tools.
Always keep a physical backup of important documents.
involving forceful or aggressive bodily contact
The argument turned physical when someone threw a punch.
Rugby can be very physical, so players wear mouthguards.
a general medical examination of the body
I have my annual physical next Tuesday.
The company requires a physical before you start work.
connected with the science of physics or the laws of nature
Gravity is a physical force that attracts all objects.
The experiment measured the physical properties of copper.
in a way that involves the body rather than the mind or emotions
After months of training, Maria felt physically ready for the marathon.
The job is physically demanding, so workers must take regular breaks.
✦ Derived from "physical" + "-ly", first recorded in the 15th century.
