internist

American  

[in-tur-nist, in-tur-nist] / ˈɪn tɜr nɪst, ɪnˈtɜr nɪst /

noun

1. a physician specializing in the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, especially of adults.

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internist British  

/ ɪnˈtɜːnɪst, ˈɪntɜːnɪst /

noun

1. a physician who specializes in internal medicine

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Etymology

Origin of internist

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; intern(al medicine) + -ist

Example Sentences

“Older patients need to change their mindset,” said Adam Rosenbluth, a New York City-based internist and cardiologist.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

The board-certified internist asserted her authority by wielding data, what she called “brute force” and the soft persuasion of an occasional gift of an orchid, picked from her garden in suburban Maryland.

From Salon • Jun. 18, 2025

Chestnut is putting his “bad doctor” days behind him, taking on a new specialty as a compassionate geneticist and internist in CBS’ medical drama “Watson,” a modern reboot of the Sherlock Holmes mythology.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 26, 2025

Pieter Cohen, a Harvard Medical School professor and internist at the Cambridge Health Alliance, says he might have been “wholeheartedly supportive” of Makary’s nomination—if it had occurred before the pandemic.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 25, 2024

“He’s an internist, not a cardiologist. He should get an EKG.”

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan