veterinarian
Americannoun
-
veterinarians
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of veterinarian
1640–50; < Latin veterīnāri ( us ) veterinary + -an
Explanation
A veterinarian is a doctor for animals. When it’s time for your dog to get his shots, you take him to the veterinarian. A veterinarian is someone who treats, cures, and prevents diseases in animals. If you want to become a veterinarian, start studying hard! Much like a people doctor, a veterinarian must have formal training before practicing — typically 4 years of veterinary medicine coursework after completing an undergraduate degree. The word veterinarian is often shortened to “vet.” You might look at your dog and say, “Time to go to the vet!”
Vocabulary lists containing veterinarian
Power Suffix: -arian
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Occupations
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Shiloh
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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.
See Examples For:
The birds, in turn, are accustomed to floodlights for the "penguin parade" tourist attraction, as well as being periodically handled by veterinarian scientists for monitoring of their health.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
The center’s veterinarian believes the otter should be well enough to be released into the wild in seven to 10 days.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
While it is well known that owners should exercise dogs regularly, Stephanie Montgomery, a veterinarian who heads the American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation, says exercise should be modified with age.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Ph.D., senior author, an associate research professor and clinical veterinarian at FAU Harbor Branch.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
During my day at Poky I spent a few hours with Dr. Mel Metzin, the staff veterinarian.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
A team of veterinarians rushed to assist the visibly feeble creature, giving him water before carrying him away on a stretcher.
From Barron's ● Aug. 13, 2026
Nearly a week after being rescued near Big Bear Lake, Jackie — half of a celebrity bald eagle couple — remains in critical condition as veterinarians continue to puzzle over the cause of her maladies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
These ranches once supported families, small towns, local stores and restaurants, feed suppliers, truckers, veterinarians, and entire rural communities.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
When H5N1 bird flu began infecting U.S. dairy cattle in early 2024, veterinarians struggled to identify the cause.
From Science Daily ● Jun. 23, 2026
It sounds crazy now, but for a long time veterinarians didn’t think an animal’s emotional state could affect its health.
From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer
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.
