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Glite Dictionary
locum

locum

1 9.5
A person who temporarily fills in for another professional, like a doctor or priest
  • noun
  • /ˈloʊkəm/
  • Jargon
: sustituto
  • The regional director ruled in favor of NWPA by including locum tenens doctors, some working less than one day monthly.
  • locum worker

I've got a number of friends who work in healthcare and are the junior doctors or on locum or whatever it might be.

Examples

  • New regulations may give locums more rights, but will they lead to fewer and shorter contracts, asks Mark Hunter?

    Academic text (2011)

  • In truth, he found it easier to sign on with agencies and do various psychiatric locums.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • But in practice, many locum social workers will be wondering what AWR gives them that they have not already got.

    Academic text (2011)

  • I've got a number of friends who work in healthcare and are the junior doctors or on locum or whatever it might be.

    Chris Williamson

  • A locum doctor saw Mr. Brown and diagnosed migraine.

    Academic text (2012)

  • Bringing locums' holiday entitlement into line with the public sector will ultimately cost the client more.

    Academic text (2011)

  • "In practical terms, many locum social workers probably won't be affected by AWR as they are almost always paid more than their permanent counterparts."

    Academic text (2011)

  • I am currently filling in as a locum for the general practitioner while she is on maternity leave.

  • The hospital hired a locum doctor to handle the extra patients during the flu season.

  • After moving to the city, he decided to work as a locum in various clinics until he found a permanent position.

Synonyms

substitute
vslocum
158 3.2

A person or thing that takes the place of another

is more specific to professionals and temporary duties
alternate
vslocum
25 3.8

A person chosen to replace another if needed

is appointed beforehand rather than simply filling in at once
stand-in
vslocum
23 4.2

A person who takes another person's place, for example in a performance or at work

is used more broadly and not only for temporary professional duty
fill-in
vslocum
6 3.5

A person who temporarily does another person's job

is temporary too but used especially for short job coverage
locum tenens
vslocum
  • Jargon
1 9.2

A person who temporarily does another person's job, like a doctor or priest

is the same meaning but uses a formal Latin two word phrase
suppositum
vslocum
  • Archaic
9.9

A person or thing placed to take another person's place

is rare or old-fashioned compared with modern temporary professional terms

Compounds

locum tenens
  • Jargon
1 9.2

A person who temporarily does another person's job, like a doctor or priest

Surface Forms

locum singular
locums plural

Etymology

The word locum comes from the Latin root locus, meaning 'place', the same root you see in location and local. So a locum is someone who 'takes the place' of another person for a short time, like a substitute doctor or priest.