patient

American  

[pey-shuhnt] / ˈpeɪ ʃənt /

noun

1. a person who is under medical care or treatment.

   Synonyms:

   invalid

2. a person or thing that undergoes some action.

3. Archaic.  a sufferer or victim.

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adjective

1. bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   calm , passive , resigned , long-suffering , uncomplaining

   Antonyms:

   hostile

2. characterized by or expressing such a quality.

   a patient smile.

   Synonyms:

   composed , self-possessed , unexcited , unruffled , serene , quiet

   Antonyms:

   agitated , impatient

3. quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness.

   a patient worker.

   Synonyms:

   assiduous , sedulous

4. undergoing the action of another (agent ).

idioms

1. patient of,

   1. having or showing the capacity for endurance.

      a man patient of distractions.

   2. susceptible of.

      This statement is patient of criticism.

patient British  

/ ˈpeɪʃənt /

adjective

1. enduring trying circumstances with even temper

2. tolerant; understanding

3. capable of accepting delay with equanimity

4. persevering or diligent

   a patient worker

5. archaic  admitting of a certain interpretation

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noun

1. a person who is receiving medical care

2. rare  a person or thing that is the recipient of some action

Other Word Forms

• overpatient adjective
• patientless adjective
• patiently adverb
• patientness noun
• quasi-patient adjective
• quasi-patiently adverb
• superpatient adjective
• superpatiently adverb
• unpatient adjective
• unpatiently adverb

Etymology

Origin of patient

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English adjective and noun pacient, from Middle French, from Latin patient-, stem of patiēns, present participle of patī “to undergo, suffer, bear”; -ent

Example Sentences

“For too long, American patients have been forced to subsidize prescription drugs and biologics in other developed countries by paying a significant premium for the same products in ours,” U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal

At the same time, the administration’s apparent tolerance for patient self-determination was a hard-won result of the patient campaign to change Carville’s institutional culture from that of a hospital to a community.

From Salon

The ambulance had stopped for treatment to be provided to the patient before he left the vehicle, Avon and Somerset Police said.

From BBC

At least five people were taken to the hospital Sunday night after a car collided with an ambulance that was transporting an elderly patient in the San Fernando Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

In settlements close to the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, health officials are turning away patients seeking treatment for bacterial infections in favor of more urgent cases, aid officials say.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• calm
• forgiving
• gentle
• quiet
• tolerant