physician

American  

[fi-zish-uhn] / fɪˈzɪʃ ən /

noun

• physicians
  plural

1. 

   a person who is legally qualified to practice medicine; doctor of medicine.

2. a person engaged in general medical practice, as distinguished from one specializing in surgery.

3. a person who is skilled in the art of healing.

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physician British  

/ fɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a person legally qualified to practise medicine, esp one specializing in areas of treatment other than surgery; doctor of medicine

2. archaic any person who treats diseases; healer

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• physicianly
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• physicians
  plural

Etymology

Origin of physician

1175–1225; physic + -ian ( see -ician); replacing Middle English fisicien < Old French

Explanation

A physician is a doctor. If you wake up and your eyes are red, your skin is yellow, and your tongue is swollen, find a physician, soon! When we use the word physician, we typically mean a doctor that practices general healing, as opposed to a surgeon. Physician is a very old word, coming from both Greek and Latin roots for physic, meaning "natural science and medicine."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

physician physicians

Caleb Pepperday is a financial planner who works with clients who are largely between 30 and 50 years old and are physician assistants.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026

Gudrun Schumann, 72, a retired physician who wandered past the rally, said she understood the AfD appeals to voters angry over mounting problems with healthcare, education and the cost of living.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

The actor, who plays chief attending physician Dr. Michael “Robby” Robinavitch in the medical drama, won the award at Monday’s Primetime Emmy Awards, a repeat effort after the medical drama’s standout freshman season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

I’m not proud of it, but I emailed my physician to say I thought my testosterone might be low and I should probably get tested ASAP.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

The Dutch physician Jan Swammerdam dissected countless insect specimens to help dispel the notion that each phase of an insect was a completely different species of animal.

From "The Girl Who Drew Butterflies: How Maria Merian's Art Changed Science" by Joyce Sidman

None of this means that consumers should be denied access to emerging tests, or that physicians should dismiss people who ask about them.

From Slate ● Sep. 9, 2026

"We hope our research will help both the public and physicians understand the connection between PCE exposure and significant liver fibrosis," he said.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026

While many doctors don’t have the time or familiarity with prior-authorization appeals to help patients, patient advocates say physicians or their office staff are a crucial part of the process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

“Scientists, physicians, public health experts and medical organizations recognized a gap and worked together to fill it.”

From Salon ● Sep. 2, 2026

Most American physicians considered pus to be a sign that the body was healing itself, and they weren't concerned.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow

Related Words

• doctor
• specialist
• surgeon