primary care

American  

noun

1. medical care by a physician, or other healthcare professional, who is the patient's first contact with the healthcare system and who may recommend a specialist if necessary.

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Other Word Forms

• primary-care adjective

Etymology

Origin of primary care

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

In November, a new primary care doctor told Glannan her heart sounded like “a bunch of galloping horses,” Glannan recalled.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

The tech behemoth unveiled a dedicated “GLP-1 Management Program” through its primary care arm, Amazon One Medical.

From Barron's • Apr. 21, 2026

The law also enables people to spend HSA dollars on monthly or annual fees for direct primary care.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

Fewer than half of people diagnosed with osteoarthritis are referred to exercise programs or physical therapy by their primary care provider.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2026

We’ve had people come in saying they want to sue some specialist, and we’ll say, ‘We don’t think that doctor was negligent. We think it’s your primary care doctor who was at fault.’

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell