pediatrician

American  

[pee-dee-uh-trish-uhn, ped-ee-] / ˌpi di əˈtrɪʃ ən, ˌpɛd i- /

Also pediatrist

noun

• pediatricians
  plural

1. a physician who specializes in pediatrics.

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pediatrician British  

/ ˌpiːdɪəˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. the US spelling of paediatrician

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pediatricians
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pediatrician

First recorded in 1900–05; pediatric ( def. ) + -ian

Explanation

A pediatrician is a doctor who specializes in the care of children. When a sick child goes to visit the pediatrician, often there are toys and other things to play with in the waiting room. The word pediatrician has only been in use since the turn of the 20th century. Some people also use the word pediatrist to mean the same thing — a doctor who specializes in treating children ranging from newborn babies to adolescents. Pediatricians study pediatrics, both of which stem from a form of the Greek pais "children." The remainder of the word comes from the Greek iatros "healer."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pediatrician pediatricians

“It might work, but we don’t know,” said Dr. Benny Joyner, a pediatrician and co-chair of the AHA’s pediatric basic life-support guidelines.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Graham will face Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, in November’s general election.

From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026

Chan said then that her work as a pediatrician, and at a Boston housing-project after-school program, had taught her that systems to help children are often siloed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 1, 2026

Ellie Brownstein, pediatrician in Salt Lake County and president-elect of the Utah chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics: I avoid talking about politics, but what’s being said has added another layer to our work.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026

Once, we were at my pediatrician when I was younger, and a light in the waiting room kept flickering.

From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas

Moderate exercise has been shown to improve learning among students from elementary school through young adulthood, and the effects on attention, memory and executive function are well-documented, pediatricians say.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 18, 2026

More than a dozen pediatricians interviewed by ProPublica said they strongly recommend all three of the typical newborn interventions but agreed that the vitamin K shot is the most vital.

From Salon ● May 7, 2026

The American Academy of Pediatrics called the order "historic and welcome," saying in a statement the changes had "sowed chaos and confusion for parents and pediatricians across the country."

From Barron's ● Mar. 16, 2026

The research team says health and mental health professionals, including pediatricians, family physicians, and social workers, should talk with young people about their use of pre-workout supplements.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 9, 2026

She is given a list of pediatricians, and coundess brochures on breast-feeding, and bonding, and immunizing, and samples of baby shampoos and Q-Tips and creams.

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri