Word
locum
UK/lˈəʊkəm/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a worker who does another person's job for a short time while that person is sick or on holiday. You often hear it about doctors.
n. a qualified professional, especially a doctor or member of the clergy, engaged to temporarily cover the duties of another in the same post.
Examples
“The clinic hires a locum while Dr. Patel is away.”
“The hospital brings in a locum to cover night shifts during the staffing shortage.”
“After the senior partner retired, the practice relied on a series of locums whose unfamiliar faces unsettled long-term patients accustomed to continuity of care.”
Examples
simple
“The clinic hires a locum while Dr. Patel is away.”
contextual
“The hospital brings in a locum to cover night shifts during the staffing shortage.”
complex
“After the senior partner retired, the practice relied on a series of locums whose unfamiliar faces unsettled long-term patients accustomed to continuity of care.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “locum” in context.
Verb
01. book locum
“The manager booked a locum to cover the Christmas rota.”
verb + noun
02. employ locum
“The clinic decided to employ a locum for six weeks.”
verb + noun
03. hire locum
“The surgery had to hire a locum at very short notice.”
verb + noun
04. locum covers
“A locum covers the evening clinic while the partners are away.”
noun + verb
05. locum replaces
“A locum replaces Dr Patel until she returns from holiday.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. experienced locum
“The practice relies on an experienced locum to cover maternity leave.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. locum cover
“The practice arranged locum cover for the half-term break.”
noun + noun
08. locum doctor
“A locum doctor saw me because my usual GP was ill.”
noun + noun
09. locum position
“He took a locum position in a busy inner-city hospital.”
noun + noun
10. book an agency locum
“The ward manager booked an agency locum for the night shift.”
11. do a stint as locum
“She did a stint as a locum before taking a permanent post.”
12. hire a locum doctor
“The surgery had to hire a locum doctor over the bank holiday weekend.”
Real-World Examples
“Dr Yasser Adly Abdel Rahman, an NHS locum surgeon from Egypt, carried out the flawed emergency bowel procedure on a young man.” “The cost of bringing in locum psychiatrists on emergency contracts to treat mental health patients in Scotland has soared, according to new figures.” “NHS Grampian said a locum doctor from India was used by the health board to cover sick leave at short notice.” Synonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
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