paramedic

¹ American  

[par-uh-med-ik] / ˌpær əˈmɛd ɪk /

noun

1. a person who is trained to assist a physician or to give first aid or other healthcare in the absence of a physician, often as part of a police, rescue, or firefighting squad.

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paramedic ² American  

[par-uh-med-ik, par-uh-med-, par-uh-med-ik] / ˌpær əˈmɛd ɪk, ˈpær əˌmɛd-, ˌpær əˈmɛd ɪk /

noun

1. Military. a medic in the paratroops.

2. a doctor who parachutes into remote areas to give medical care.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a paramedic or to paramedics.

paramedic British  

/ ˌpærəˈmedɪk /

noun

1. a person, such as a laboratory technician, who supplements the work of the medical profession

2. a member of an ambulance crew trained in a number of life-saving skills, including infusion and cardiac care

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adjective

1. of or designating such a person

Etymology

Origin of paramedic¹

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55; para- ¹ + medic ¹

Origin of paramedic¹

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55; para- ³ + medic ¹

Example Sentences

Later that evening Dale was "in shock" and worried about whether he had done the right thing when the paramedic rang him "to say Jonathan was OK".

From BBC

A number of people have been safely brought back to shore and will be checked by paramedics, the force confirmed.

From BBC

Police and paramedics arrived shortly afterwards and Nicola was checked over at the scene and later told she had very low blood pressure.

From BBC

Minutes later, police and then paramedics arrived and transported her off the hill to a waiting ambulance.

From BBC

The first responders, police and paramedics would have been working on members of their own community.

From BBC

Related Words

• nurse