locum tenens

American  

[loh-kuhm tee-nenz, ten-inz] / ˈloʊ kəm ˈti nɛnz, ˈtɛn ɪnz /

noun

Chiefly British.

plural

locum tenentes

1. a temporary substitute, especially for a doctor or member of the clergy.

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locum tenens British  

/ ˈləʊkəm ˈtiːnɛnz /

noun

1. Often shortened to: locum.  a person who stands in temporarily for another member of the same profession, esp for a physician, chemist, or clergyman

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Other Word Forms

• locum-tenency noun

Etymology

Origin of locum tenens

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin locum tenēns “holding the place”

Example Sentences

Nearly nonverbal, Scrat wouldn’t even require a locum tenens; of all the movie’s sins, his omission is unforgivable.

From New York Times • Jan. 28, 2022

Though still a church term, locum tenens is also used for temporary health-care jobs.

From Time Magazine Archive

John Huneke, 69, who last year sold the ophthalmology practice he ran for 33 years in Ada, Okla., has done several locum tenens stints through CompHealth.

From Time Magazine Archive

In the Middle Ages, the term locum tenens, Latin for "holding the place," was used to describe substitute priests.

From Time Magazine Archive

If there was no son capable, the state put in a locum tenens, but granted one-third to the wife to maintain herself and children.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1 "Austria, Lower" to "Bacon" by Various

Related Words

• backup
• replacement
• stand-in
• surrogate