neurologist

American  

[noo-rol-uh-jist, nyoo-] / nʊˈrɒl ə dʒɪst, nyʊ- /

noun

1. a physician specializing in neurology.

---

Etymology

Origin of neurologist

First recorded in 1825–35; neurolog(y) + -ist

Explanation

A doctor who specializes in the brain, spinal cord, and nerves is a neurologist. A neurologist treats patients with epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and other disorders that involve the nervous system. You can think of a neurologist as a "brain doctor," although everything in your body that makes up your nervous system, from your brain to your nerves and ganglia, falls under their area of expertise. Neurologists are specially trained to diagnose and treat disorders ranging from concussion and migraines to stroke. The word neurologist comes from neurology and its Greek roots: neuro-, "nerves," and -logia, "study."

Example Sentences

According to the center’s director, neurologist Dr. Ann McKee, about 6% of people with CTE also have ALS.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

"There is no support, there is nothing at all - I've been to see two neurologists, neither neurologist had any in-depth knowledge of CTE," Ross said.

From BBC • Mar. 5, 2026

Take immediate steps to safeguard your brother’s safety: He may need an assessment for dementia or cognitive impairment from a neurologist or geriatrician.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

Dr. David Wolk, a neurologist and director of the University of Pennsylvania’s Disease Research Center, says the debate comes down to semantics: having a disease versus being at risk of it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

“As a neurologist, my focus is perception. I study how the brain processes information from our senses and how it relays that information back to the rest of the body.”

From "A Mango-Shaped Space" by Wendy Mass