ophthalmologist
Americannoun
noun
Related Words
See eye doctor.
Etymology
Origin of ophthalmologist
First recorded in 1825–35; ophthalmo- + -log(y) + -ist
Explanation
If you can't see the board from your desk, it might be time to visit an ophthalmologist, or eye doctor, to see if you need glasses. An ophthalmologist is a doctor whose specialty is diseases and conditions of the eyes, especially things that relate to vision. She's the doctor who examines your eyes and writes the prescription for your contact lenses. The Greek root word is ophthalmos, which means "eye." Ophthalmologist is a tricky word to spell, particularly because many people tend to skip both the "ph" and the first "l" when they pronounce it.
Vocabulary lists containing ophthalmologist
Common Senses: Op, Ops, Opt ("Sight")
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Occupations
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Words with 15 or More Letters, List 4
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sydnexis invited Robert Clark, a renowned pediatric ophthalmologist, to accompany its executives to a meeting with FDA staff last month to address the agency’s criticism.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026
"The eventual goal is that it would be readily available at your local ophthalmologist."
From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2025
But we also pay out of pocket for periodic visits with specialists like our ophthalmologist and dentist, with whom we’ve developed relationships over the years.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 27, 2025
Which has me wondering … when can we expect a bobblehead night for his ophthalmologist?
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 28, 2025
Yesterday all anyone here could talk about was Anne’s eyes, because Mother had suggested I go to the ophthalmologist with Mrs. Kleiman.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
