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doctor

doctor

1.0
A person who treats sick or injured people
  • noun
  • /ˈdɑːktər/
translation icon : médico
  • Many people rely on their family doctor for routine check-ups and medical advice.
  • consult a doctor
  • see a doctor
  • talk to a doctor

I would, like, need a doctor to do that.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Do we need to call a doctor for you?

  • We gotta get him to a doctor.

  • And remember the doctor said try not to hit your head again.

  • And you know what your doctor said.

  • The drug had been prescribed by a doctor who believed the patient needed it.

    Academic text (2011)
  • For Crystal, this meant going to the doctor, eating right, and exercising.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Along with examinations and investigations, the doctor has to arrive at a clinical diagnosis.

    Academic text (2012)
  • If you have a serious health issue, it's important to consult a doctor as soon as possible.

  • The doctor examined the patient thoroughly before making a diagnosis.

Synonyms

doc
vsdoctor
  • Informal
7.8

A person who treats sick or injured people

is the formal, general term rather than casual speech
physician
vsdoctor
  • Specialized
674 3.8

A doctor who finds what is wrong and treats sick or injured people

is the general term for any such licensed medical professional
specialist
vsdoctor
120 3.9

A doctor who treats one part of the body, like the heart

is the general term covering both specialists and generalists
pediatrician
vsdoctor
  • US
95 3.7

A doctor who cares for babies and children

is the broad name covering all age groups and medical areas
pathologist
vsdoctor
  • Specialized
52 5.8

A doctor who looks at tissues, cells, and body fluids to find disease

is the general term including clinical and laboratory medical roles
clinician
vsdoctor
  • Specialized
22 4.5

A health worker who treats patients directly

is the umbrella term including both direct caregivers and others
eye doctor
vsdoctor
16 2.8

A doctor who checks and treats problems with the eyes

is the wide term that applies to any licensed medical professional
medical officer
vsdoctor
  • Specialized
15 3.7

A doctor who looks after the health of soldiers or people in an institution

is the general term for any licensed person treating patients
14 3.8

A doctor you see first for health problems who gives general care and arranges specialist help

is the wide umbrella term for any licensed medical professional
MD
vsdoctor
13 3.5

A doctor qualified to treat patients

is the broad label for any licensed medical professional
GP
vsdoctor
  • UK
9 3.2

A doctor who gives general medical care to people

is the overarching name for any qualified medical professional
general practitioner
vsdoctor
  • Specialized
7 2.7

A doctor who treats common illnesses and sends patients to specialists

is the broader term covering all licensed medical professionals
5 3.7

A person trained to treat sick or injured people, like a doctor

is the everyday word for any licensed medical professional
diagnostician
vsdoctor
  • Specialized
4 7.9

A doctor who finds what illness someone has by looking at their symptoms

is the wider name for all licensed medical professionals not only exam experts
medical man
vsdoctor
  • Archaic
3 7.7

A man who is a doctor often appears in old books or stories

is the neutral, non-gendered name for that licensed professional
2 3.5

A doctor with extra training in one part of medicine

is the broad label for any qualified medical professional
medico
vsdoctor
  • UK
1 8.3

A doctor who treats sick or hurt people

is the standard, neutral term rather than the casual expression
Dr.
vsdoctor
  • US
1.0

A person who is trained to treat people when they are sick

serves as the general name for any licensed medical professional

Idioms

Exactly what you need or want in a situation

Compounds

18 8.2

A person in some cultures who uses rituals and plant medicines to heal people

17 2.0

A doctor who gives regular health care to all family members over many years

16 2.8

A doctor who checks and treats problems with the eyes

A doctor who people respect and trust

spin doctor
  • Literature
7 7.1

A person who makes news or events look better to influence people's opinions

A doctor who performs abortions

A doctor who works in the countryside and cares for people far from hospitals

foot doctor
  • Informal
2 2.7

A doctor who treats problems with the feet

baby doctor
  • Informal
2 3.4

A doctor who cares for babies and young children

quack doctor
  • Offensive
1 7.5

A person who pretends to be a doctor and gives fake medical treatments

1 3.3

A person who treats and cares for horses

Doctor of Philosophy
  • Specialized
1 5.4

A university degree that shows you did new research after several years of study

1 9.6

A saint in the Roman Catholic Church honored for important religious teaching and writing

Doctor of Divinity
  • Specialized
1 8.6

A high university degree in religious study given to senior scholars

Doctor of Medicine
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A university degree that lets a person treat sick people

A university degree for people who lead public health programs and make health policy

A university degree in science that universities give for important research or as an honor

1 2.3

A doctor who treats ear problems and helps with hearing

A doctor who treats problems of the ear, nose, and throat

skin doctor
  • Informal
1 3.4

A doctor who treats skin problems like rashes and eczema

3.5

A university degree that lets someone work as a dentist

4.4

A degree dentists receive after dental school that lets them operate on teeth

Doctor of Education
  • Specialized
4.5

A university degree for advanced study and research about teaching and schools

Doctor of Fine Arts
  • Specialized
6.3

A special degree that a university gives to people for work in the fine arts

8.9

An honorary university degree given for important work in literature or the humanities

Doctor of Humanities
  • Specialized
5.7

An honorary university degree given for important work in subjects like history or literature

Doctor of Laws
  • Specialized
7.0

A university degree given after study or to honour someone for important work in law

Doctor of Music
  • Specialized
6.7

A university degree that shows advanced study or performance in music

6.4

An advanced university degree for people who perform, write, or conduct music

Doctor of Optometry
  • Specialized
4.8

A high-level degree for people who test and treat problems with sight

Doctor of Osteopathy
  • Specialized
5.1

A doctor qualified in osteopathic medicine who can treat patients, prescribe medicine, and perform surgery

The highest university degree in theology given by the Catholic Church

A university degree for advanced study and research about religion

Doctor of Arts
  • Specialized
7.1

A high-level degree for study or achievement in arts and humanities

doctor-fish
  • Specialized
9.4

A brightly colored tropical fish with sharp spines found in the Caribbean

A small freshwater fish that nibbles dead skin during spa pedicures

fish doctor
  • Specialized
8.9

A brightly colored fish with no scales that lives in cold northern waters

A person who uses plant medicines to treat illnesses

A person who talks with spirits to heal people or tell the future

pox doctor
  • Archaic
9.9

A doctor who treated people with smallpox and other contagious diseases during outbreaks

9.9

A long, thin insect with bright, shiny wings that eats mosquitoes

A doctor who cares for women's health, especially during pregnancy and for the parts used for having babies

How Senior

consultant
537 3.8
specialist
120 3.9
doctor
1.0

Surface Forms

doctor singular
doctors plural

Etymology

Doctor comes from the Latin word docere, which means 'to teach'. In medieval times the most learned people who taught medicine were called doctors, so the word now means a qualified medical person who treats the sick.