radiologist

American  

[ray-dee-ahl-uh-jist] / ˌreɪ diˈɑl ə dʒɪst /

noun

radiologists plural

1. a specialist in medical radiology.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• radiologists
  plural

Explanation

A radiologist is a doctor who detects and treats conditions using medical imaging, like x-ray machines. If you think you've broken your arm after a fall at the roller rink, you may need to see a radiologist. A radiologist can x-ray your arm or leg and get a picture of the bones inside. Other tools available to radiologists include CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasound. These are all imaging techniques, and the word radiologist comes from the radiation that x-rays and CT scans use to create an image (from the Latin radiationem, "a shining"). Instead of radiation, ultrasounds use sound waves and MRIs use magnetic fields and radio waves.

Example Sentences

During the procedure, an interventional radiologist uses a thin catheter to reach the affected blood vessels and injects tiny particles that block blood flow to them.

From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026

“If the radiologist had carefully reviewed both breast mammograms at the first occurrence, I would have skipped the lumpectomy and radiation and gone straight for bilateral mastectomies.”

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

This retained the safeguard of a human radiologist reviewing each case, while maximising the potential gains from the use of technology.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

During the exam, the radiologist noted that Hamilton, who is 49, had “dense breast tissue” but did not explain further—only that she should always get extra screening exams.

From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026

In fact, it was her radiologist who was potentially at fault.

From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell