physician

[ fi-zish-uhn ]

noun

1. a person who is legally qualified to practice medicine; doctor of medicine.
2. a person engaged in general medical practice, as distinguished from one specializing in surgery.
3. a person who is skilled in the art of healing.

physician

/ fɪˈzɪʃən /

noun

1. a person legally qualified to practise medicine, esp one specializing in areas of treatment other than surgery; doctor of medicine
2. archaic.
   any person who treats diseases; healer

Other Words From

• phy·sician·ly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of physician¹

1175–1225; physic + -ian ( -ician ); replacing Middle English fisicien < Old French

Word History and Origins

Origin of physician¹

C13: from Old French fisicien, from fisique physic

Example Sentences

“For inpatient studies, the EAU makes studying this treatment more difficult,” says Daniel Hanley, a physician who directs multisite clinical trials at Johns Hopkins.

From Science News

The remaining five countries do not have even a single physician per 1,000 people.

From Quanta Magazine

Places like a patient’s bedroom in their home, some nursing home rooms and a classroom would all be concerning to me as a physician.

From No Straight News

I believe it was the physician that I saw, asked me if I was interested in getting help.

From Freakonomics

So in general you know physicians will tell you not to dispose of medication in those ways but that it should be disposed of safely.

From Freakonomics

That distant whirring sound you hear is a long-dead Greek physician spinning in his grave.

From The Daily Beast

An electrocardiogram is taken over the phone and then sent to his physician for examination.

From The Daily Beast

The only physician she was permitted to see was the jail doctor.

From The Daily Beast

This is entirely understandable—after all, it is unsettling that a physician could make such an obvious mistake.

From The Daily Beast

Maynard was 29 years old at the time of her death, able to request drugs from her physician after considered reflection.

From The Daily Beast

Honour the physician for the need thou hast of him: for the most High hath created him.

From Project Gutenberg

Give a sweet savour, and a memorial of fine flour, and make a fat offering, and then give place to the physician.

From Project Gutenberg

William Woodville died; a distinguished English physician and medical writer.

From Project Gutenberg

Christopher Bennet died; a distinguished London physician, and writer on medical subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

He was afterwards a member of the Massachusetts senate, and much esteemed as a physician and a patriot.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• doctor
• specialist
• surgeon