pediatrician

American  

[pee-dee-uh-trish-uhn, ped-ee-] / ˌpi di əˈtrɪʃ ən, ˌpɛd i- /

Also pediatrist

noun

• pediatricians
  plural

1. a physician who specializes in pediatrics.

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pediatrician British  

/ ˌpiːdɪəˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. the US spelling of paediatrician

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pediatricians
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of pediatrician

First recorded in 1900–05; pediatric ( def. ) + -ian

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Explanation

A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of children. When a sick child goes to visit the pediatrician, often there are toys and other things to play with in the waiting room. The word pediatrician has only been in use since the turn of the 20th century. Some people also use the word pediatrist to mean the same thing — a doctor who specializes in treating children ranging from newborn babies to adolescents. Pediatricians study pediatrics, both of which stem from a form of the Greek pais "children." The remainder of the word comes from the Greek iatros "healer."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pediatrician pediatricians

Acton, a pediatrician and former health director under Ohio’s current Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, has spoken openly during her campaign about facing abuse and neglect as a child, while in her mother’s custody.

From Salon ● Oct. 22, 2026

Communication is crucial after such an event, local pediatrician Logan Clausen told CNN.

From Barron's ● Oct. 17, 2026

"The death of any parent has enormous consequences for a child, and as a pediatrician, I care most about how a parent's death impacts the child, especially in the early years."

From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026

Phillip Nieburg, a retired pediatrician and epidemiologist, had children at age 44, 49 and 52.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

First, they took me to my pediatrician, Dr. Rose.

From "Finding Junie Kim" by Ellen Oh

His mother, Mollie Roy, alternated Tylenol and Motrin as pediatricians typically recommend and looked after him as he rested at home.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Since the theory was introduced, some physicians, including pediatricians, have treated the pattern as a meaningful warning sign that might be prevented or modified through diet and lifestyle changes.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

Moderate exercise has been shown to improve learning among students from elementary school through young adulthood, and the effects on attention, memory and executive function are well-documented, pediatricians say.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

More than a dozen pediatricians interviewed by ProPublica said they strongly recommend all three of the typical newborn interventions but agreed that the vitamin K shot is the most vital.

From Salon ● May 7, 2026

Allegra’s parents were both pediatricians and spent so much time fixing the health problems of other people’s kids that Allegra believed they’d forgotten they had a daughter of their own.

From "The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street" by Karina Yan Glaser

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