English Explanatory Dictionary

physician

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A practitioner of physic, i.e. a specialist in internal medicine, especially as opposed to a surgeon; a practitioner who treats with medication rather than with surgery.
  2. A medical doctor trained in human medicine.

Pronunciation

/fəˈzɪʃən/ /fɪˈzɪʃn̩/ En-us-physician.ogg

Word forms

physician physicians phisician phisitian physitian

Etymology

From Middle English fisicien, from Old French fisicïen (“physician”) (modern French physicien (“physicist”)), from fisique (“art of healing”), from Latin physica (“natural science”), from Ancient Greek φυσική ἐπιστήμη (phusikḗ epistḗmē, “knowledge of nature”), from φυσικός (phusikós, “pertaining to nature”). Displaced native Middle English læche, leche, archaic English leech (“physician”). Morphologically physic + -ian.

Synonyms

doctor doc leech physic physician medic medician medical doctor

Related words

physic physical physicist physics :Category:Healthcare occupations

Derived words

emergency physician family physician geophysician interphysician intraphysician non-physician nonphysician physician assistant physician associate physiciancy physicianed physicianess physician extender physician finger physician, heal thyself physicianless physicianlike physicianly physicianship
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