Cool MateMedicine vs Remedy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Medicine
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Remedy
Top 2,000 (common)C1noun
Most common: Medicine
| Medicine | Remedy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈmedsn//ˈmedɪsn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈmedɪsn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈremədi/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈremədi/"]/ |
| Meaning | A substance used to treat illness or improve health. | A way to fix a problem or make something better. |
| Example | She took her medicine every morning to stay healthy. | The herbal remedy helped soothe her cold symptoms quickly. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | modern, traditional, folk, train in, qualify in, practise/practice, a branch of medicine, powerful, strong, allergy, dose, take, swallow, prescribe (somebody), cabinet, chest, bottle, medicine for | adequate, effective, good, have, pursue, seek, be available, lie in something, remedy against, remedy for, remedy in, rights and remedies, effective, good, common, dose, take, use, need, be available, work, remedy for, adequate, effective, good, have, pursue, seek, be available, lie in something, remedy against, remedy for, remedy in, rights and remedies |
| Antonyms | poison, toxin | problem, harm, injury |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'medication', which refers specifically to the act of taking medicine., Using 'medicine' to refer only to prescription drugs; it can also mean herbal or over-the-counter treatments., Confounding 'medicine' with 'medicinal', which describes something that has healing properties. | Confusing 'remedy' with 'cure' — a remedy may not fully cure something., Using 'remedy' incorrectly as a verb, when it's primarily a noun., Using 'remedy' in very informal situations where a simpler word like 'fix' could work better. |
| Usage notes | Use 'medicine' in both spoken and written contexts when referring to drugs or treatments. It's appropriate in formal settings like hospitals and informal conversations about health. | Use 'remedy' when discussing solutions to problems, especially in health or legal contexts. It is less common in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Medicine vs Remedy
What's the difference between Medicine and Remedy?
Medicine: A substance used to treat illness or improve health. Remedy: A way to fix a problem or make something better.
Which is more common: Medicine and Remedy?
Medicine is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Medicine and Remedy?
Remedy is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Medicine and Remedy the same CEFR level?
Medicine: A2, Remedy: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Medicine and Remedy?
Medicine: noun, Remedy: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Medicine: She took her medicine every morning to stay healthy. Remedy: The herbal remedy helped soothe her cold symptoms quickly.
Can I use Medicine and Remedy interchangeably?
Not always. Medicine and Remedy are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.