# consultant

/kənˈsəɫtənt/ (US) · /kənsˈʌltənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/consultant
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. business expert

noun · CEFR B2

a person whose job is to give expert advice to a company or organization about a particular subject.

For teachers: a professional who provides expert advice or services in a particular field of expertise to a third party for a fee.

- The company hired a marketing consultant to help them reach younger customers.
- After the merger, the board brought in an independent consultant to evaluate the efficiency of the new organizational structure.

Usage: Often used with 'on' or 'for' to specify the field of expertise.

### 2. senior doctor

noun · CEFR C1 · British English

a very senior doctor in a hospital who has a lot of experience in a specific area of medicine.

For teachers: a senior hospital-based physician or surgeon who has completed specialist training and holds the highest clinical rank.

- The consultant told me that I would need a small operation on my knee.
- The surgical consultant led the multidisciplinary team during the complex procedure, overseeing both the registrars and the nursing staff.

Teaching tip: In American English, this role is usually called an 'attending physician' or simply a 'specialist'.

## Examples

- The consultant will see you in the morning.
- After the initial tests, the patient was referred to a cardiac consultant for a more detailed diagnosis.
- The hospital's lead consultant reviewed the surgical plan, ensuring that the junior doctors understood the risks associated with such a rare condition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.