paramedic

¹

[ par-uh-med-ik ]

noun

1. a person who is trained to assist a physician or to give first aid or other healthcare in the absence of a physician, often as part of a police, rescue, or firefighting squad.

paramedic

²

[ noun par-uh-med-ik, par-uh-med-; adjective par-uh-med-ik ]

noun

1. Military. a medic in the paratroops.
2. a doctor who parachutes into remote areas to give medical care.

adjective

1. of or relating to a paramedic or to paramedics.

paramedic

/ ˌpærəˈmedɪk /

noun

1. a person, such as a laboratory technician, who supplements the work of the medical profession
2. a member of an ambulance crew trained in a number of life-saving skills, including infusion and cardiac care

adjective

1. of or designating such a person

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramedic¹

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55; para- ¹ + medic ¹

Origin of paramedic²

An Americanism dating back to 1950–55; para- ³ + medic ¹

Example Sentences

The paramedics responsible were sentenced earlier this year with 14 months in jail.

From Salon

After Orange County sheriff’s deputies and firefighter paramedics responded, one worker was hospitalized at a local trauma center and a second was pronounced dead at the scene, fire officials said.

From Los Angeles Times

Members of the community rushed to Max and Mason who collapsed in the street to try and save them before paramedics arrived.

From BBC

In the southern Nabatieh region, another Israeli air strike on Thursday destroyed the civil defence centre in the town of Arab Salim, killing six people, including five paramedics, the Lebanese state news agency NNA reported.

From BBC

A paramedic who examined Ms Hand on the day after the alleged attacks told the court on Tuesday that she had not seen such bruising on a patient in a long time.

From BBC

Related Words

• nurse