physician

American  

[fi-zish-uhn] / fɪˈzɪʃ ən /

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.

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physician British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• physicianly adjective

Etymology

Origin of physician

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

Example Sentences

Before the 2023 restrictions, pharmacies were able to compound peptides that had been prescribed by a physician.

From The Wall Street Journal

Home-visiting nurses, aides and physician assistants in outpatient settings can actually reduce costs, or at least aren’t the primary driver of rising spending.

From The Wall Street Journal

While those issues have improved, many physicians still hesitate to prescribe them.

From Science Daily

There was Kent Brantly, 27, a family physician who, owing to the grueling hours and oppressive African heat, had lost 30 pounds even before he succumbed to hemorrhagic fevers.

From The Wall Street Journal

One was said to be her personal physician.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• doctor
• specialist
• surgeon