MD

4 synonyms for MD, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Abbreviation — Doctor of Medicine: the professional degree qualifying a person to practise medicine, and the letters placed after the holder's name.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

physician

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

Doctor of Medicine managing director chief executive

Synonyms by Meaning

1. abbreviation

Doctor of Medicine: the professional degree qualifying a person to practise medicine, and the letters placed after the holder's name.

“She finished her MD at Johns Hopkins in 2019.”

Doctor of Medicine physician

2. abbreviation

Managing director: the senior executive who runs a company's day-to-day operations, and in investment banking a senior rank.

“He was promoted to MD of the European division.”

managing director chief executive

How to use MD

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

MD degree MD PhD board-certified MD

Formal in the medical and business senses. American style usually drops the full stops (MD); older British style may write M.D.

Etymology

An initialism of Latin Medicinae Doctor, 'teacher of medicine'.

Full origin of MD →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an MD and a DO?

Both are fully licensed physicians in the United States with the same practising rights. MDs train in allopathic medical schools, while DOs train in osteopathic schools that add instruction in manipulative treatment of the musculoskeletal system.

What is the difference between an MD and a PhD?

An MD is a professional degree that qualifies you to treat patients; a PhD is a research degree awarded for an original contribution to knowledge. Some doctors hold both, written MD PhD.

Is it correct to write "Dr Jane Smith, MD"?

Style guides advise choosing one or the other, since both mark the same qualification. Write either "Dr Jane Smith" or "Jane Smith, MD".

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