podiatrist
Americannoun
Usage
What does podiatrist mean? A podiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the feet. Podiatrists undergo specialized training to diagnose and treat issues with the foot, as well as connecting areas such as the ankle. They are sometimes called podiatric physicians or, when qualified to perform surgery for such problems, foot and ankle surgeons. Example: I have an appointment with the podiatrist because my ankle doesn’t seem to be healing properly.
Etymology
Origin of podiatrist
First recorded in 1910–15; podiatr(y) + -ist
Explanation
A podiatrist is a foot doctor. Got a bunion? A hammer toe? Call the podiatrist. The word podiatrist is composed of two ancient Greek parts: pod, meaning "foot," and iatrist, meaning "healer." Other kinds of doctors have a similar suffix: think psychiatrist — a doctor of the mind. The pod prefix and suffix is used to name a number of things. For example, a camera tripod has three "feet." Pea pods and iPods? Nothing to do with feet!
Vocabulary lists containing podiatrist
Body Language: Ped, Pod ("Foot")
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Merci Suárez Changes Gears
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Specialist medical treatment - an ophthalmologist, dermatologist, podiatrist and orthopaedist - is available, as are nutritionists and hydrationists, while chefs rustle up home comforts from every corner of the globe.
From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026
“People are very tense,” said Rosa María López, 47, a podiatrist and mother of two.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025
And when it told me my blisters were so bad I should consult a medical professional, I limped all the way to my local podiatrist.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
At the same time, water starts to leak into their body’s tissues, causing them to swell, explains Tamara Hew-Butler, a Texas-based podiatrist who specializes in treating and studying runners.
From Slate • Aug. 17, 2025
Deciding that his wife had found the perfect partner, the podiatrist moved on to the two women standing in silence at the front window.
From "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
