patient

American  

[pey-shuhnt] / ˈpeɪ ʃənt /

noun

1. a person who is under medical care or treatment.

   Synonyms:

   invalid

2. a person or thing that undergoes some action.

3. Archaic. a sufferer or victim.

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adjective

1. bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   calm, passive, resigned, long-suffering, uncomplaining

   Antonyms:

   hostile

2. characterized by or expressing such a quality.

   a patient smile.

   Synonyms:

   composed, self-possessed, unexcited, unruffled, serene, quiet

   Antonyms:

   agitated, impatient

3. quietly and steadily persevering or diligent, especially in detail or exactness.

   a patient worker.

   Synonyms:

   assiduous, sedulous

4. undergoing the action of another (opposed to agent).

idioms

1. patient of,

   1. having or showing the capacity for endurance.

      a man patient of distractions.

   2. susceptible of.

      This statement is patient of criticism.

patient British  

/ ˈpeɪʃənt /

adjective

1. enduring trying circumstances with even temper

2. tolerant; understanding

3. capable of accepting delay with equanimity

4. persevering or diligent

   a patient worker

5. archaic admitting of a certain interpretation

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noun

1. a person who is receiving medical care

2. rare a person or thing that is the recipient of some action

Other Word Forms

• overpatient
  adjective
• patientless
  adjective
• patiently
  adverb
• patientness
  noun
• quasi-patient
  adjective
• quasi-patiently
  adverb
• superpatient
  adjective
• superpatiently
  adverb
• unpatient
  adjective
• unpatiently
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of patient

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English adjective and noun pacient, from Middle French, from Latin patient-, stem of patiēns, present participle of patī “to undergo, suffer, bear”; see -ent

Explanation

You are patient if you don't get frustrated or annoyed when you have to wait or deal with difficulties. The band director may show patient leadership, but a football coach uses other methods with his team. It may be difficult to wait for something that takes a long time or deal with someone who is annoying, but if you are patient, you endure these things calmly and without frustration. Endure is the keyword here as patient comes from the Latin verb pati "to suffer, endure." Think of the patient way a chess player wins a game — calmly, steadily and willing to wait for the right time to act.

Example Sentences

Patient no-show rates are a major problem for doctors and for people like you, who not only show up on time but arrive early.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

Patient investors in index funds have been rewarded.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 21, 2026

Patient volumes in the hospital network operator’s domestic and international segments have also been affected by factors including Thailand’s economic slowdown and the Thailand-Cambodian border dispute, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

Christina Siegel Malbon of Patient Capital Management said she likes to buy stocks “when things are uncomfortable.”

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Patient is a useful way to be when you’re an ape.

From "The One and Only Ivan" by Katherine Applegate

Related Words

• calm
• forgiving
• gentle
• quiet
• tolerant