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Glite Dictionary
whitecoat

whitecoat

5.3
A doctor or other health worker who cares for patients in a hospital
  • noun
  • /ˈwaɪtˌkoʊt/
: médico
  • The upshot was the creation of "Project Whitecoat," under which volunteers from among drafted Adventist noncombatant servicemen spent their periods of military service as guinea pigs in biological warfare research for the U.S. Army at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

Examples

  • "Some whitecoat giving lectures to mothers with crying babies isn't going to make an impact on anyone at all," says Cairncross.

    Academic text (2015)

  • "Only a few whitecoats roamed the halls of DNAttitudes, Inc., once the sun set.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • Nevertheless, should your prediction be correct, I don't see how my appreciation toward ZH's resident whitecoat can possibly rise.

    Blog text (24)

  • The whitecoat examined the patient carefully before making a diagnosis.

  • During the seminar, the whitecoat shared important health tips with the audience.

  • Many people feel more comfortable talking to a whitecoat about their health issues.

Synonyms

doc
vswhitecoat
  • Informal
972 7.8

A person who treats sick or injured people

is the neutral term used in formal clinical contexts
physician
vswhitecoat
  • Specialized
537 3.8

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

is broader, including other medical staff beyond licensed clinicians

Surface Forms

whitecoat singular
whitecoats plural

Morphology

whitecoat = white + coat (semi-transparent) = white + coat

Formed from 'white' + 'coat' (clear components), but the occupational meaning 'medical professional' is metonymic (the wearer of a white coat) and not strictly compositional.

Etymology

Whitecoat comes from the everyday words white 'the colour white' and coat 'a piece of clothing worn over other clothes', because doctors and other medical staff often wear a white coat in hospitals. So a whitecoat is a doctor or medical worker who wears that white garment.