physician

[fi-zish-uhn]

noun

1. a person who is legally qualified to practice medicine; doctor of medicine.

2. a person engaged in general medical practice, as distinguished from one specializing in surgery.

3. a person who is skilled in the art of healing.

physician

/ fɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a person legally qualified to practise medicine, esp one specializing in areas of treatment other than surgery; doctor of medicine

2. archaic,  any person who treats diseases; healer

Other Word Forms

• physicianly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of physician¹

1175–1225; physic + -ian ( -ician ); replacing Middle English fisicien < Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of physician¹

C13: from Old French fisicien, from fisique _physic

Example Sentences

Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease physician at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and other public health experts criticized Prasad’s assertions.

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That was indeed the case, I later learned: Not all the physicians I use were in-network for the plans the tool identified for me.

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On behalf of all the physicians, nurses and staff who have walked these halls, it is with heavy hearts that we mark the end of this chapter.”

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“This is not a record we want to be breaking,” Dr. Michael Wright, president of the physician’s group, said.

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When senior Malaya Galindez, 21, who aspires to be a physician and is majoring in health and human sciences, told her parents that she intended to minor in comedy, her father was surprised.

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Related Words

• doctor 
• specialist 
• surgeon