paramedic
n. countablen. a person who is trained to give emergency medical care to people who are injured or ill. They usually work in an ambulance and help patients before they reach the hospital.
n. a healthcare professional trained to provide advanced emergency medical treatment in pre-hospital settings. Often works as part of an ambulance crew to stabilise patients during transport.
The paramedic arrived quickly to help the injured driver.
After the accident, a paramedic checked the woman's pulse and gave her oxygen before the ambulance moved.
While doctors specialise in long-term hospital care, the paramedic must make split-second decisions in high-pressure environments to ensure a patient survives the journey to the emergency room.
From para- + medic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Often used as a modifier in noun phrases like 'paramedic crew' or 'paramedic training'.
Last updated May 7, 2026