inpatient

American  

[in-pay-shuhnt] / ˈɪnˌpeɪ ʃənt /

noun

1. a patient who stays in a hospital while receiving medical care or treatment.

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inpatient British  

/ ˈɪnˌpeɪʃənt /

noun

1. a hospital patient who occupies a bed for at least one night in the course of treatment, examination, or observation Compare outpatient

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Usage

What does inpatient mean? Inpatient is commonly used as an adjective to describe treatment that requires a patient to be admitted to a hospital or other care facility for at least one night. Inpatient is used in contrast with the term outpatient, which describes treatment that does not require a patient to stay overnight. The terms are especially used in phrases like inpatient treatment (which requires the patient to stay overnight at the hospital), inpatient room (where such patients stay), and outpatient procedure (after which the patient can leave, instead of staying for further observation or treatment). Both terms can also be used as nouns referring to such patients. Inpatient is typically used in the context of hospitals, but it can also refer to a patient of a mental health facility or other kinds of clinics. Example: This type of surgery requires inpatient care—typically consisting of a one-week hospital stay.

Etymology

Origin of inpatient

First recorded in 1750–60; in- ¹ + patient

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inpatient

Admitted patients like Davis can be seen by inpatient doctors even while waiting in the E.R.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

There, Laura received 10 weeks of specialist inpatient care which she said had made all the difference.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

The health board estimates the average journey time to inpatient care could rise from around 12 minutes to 24 minutes under the proposals.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

State regulators have set hospital inpatient procedure rates for all payers since the 1970s, and in 2014 the state reformed the model by capping each hospital’s total annual revenue under global budgets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

But seeing that the young man heeded him not, he muttered an inpatient "Teremtette!" between his teeth, and then, plucking at his master's dress, he continued— "Have you no orders to give me, Master Otmar?"

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846 by Various

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