locum tenens

[loh-kuhm tee-nenz, ten-inz]

noun

Chiefly British.

plural

locum tenentes 

1. a temporary substitute, especially for a doctor or member of the clergy.

locum tenens

/ ˈləʊkəm ˈtiːnɛnz /

noun

1. Often shortened to: locum. a person who stands in temporarily for another member of the same profession, esp for a physician, chemist, or clergyman

Other Word Forms

• locum-tenency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of locum tenens¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin locum tenēns “holding the place”

Word History and Origins

Origin of locum tenens¹

C17: Medieval Latin: (someone) holding the place (of another)

Related Words

• backup 
• replacement 
• stand-in 
• surrogate