noun
physician
fih-ZIHSHN
noun
1
A medical doctor, especially one who treats illness with medicine and diagnosis rather than surgery.
"Her physician prescribed a course of antibiotics."
"He trained as a physician before specializing in cardiology."
How to Use Physician
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA qualified doctor, especially one focused on diagnosis and medicine rather than operating.
Common mistake
In the US, "physician" often means any medical doctor; in the UK it more specifically means a specialist in internal medicine, as distinct from a surgeon.
UK vs US
UK usage tends to distinguish physicians (non-surgical specialists) from surgeons; US usage is broader.
Common pairings
see a physician
primary care physician
physician's assistant
Word Forms
physicians plural
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Her _____ prescribed a course of antibiotics.
Etymology
From Old French fisicien, from fisique ("the art of healing"), ultimately from Greek phusike ("knowledge of nature").