physician
n.-
1 a medical doctor (n.) C1 Advanced Formal Medicinea formal word for a doctor who is trained to treat people who are ill.
a person qualified to practise medicine. While often used as a formal synonym for 'doctor', it specifically denotes a practitioner of internal medicine in professional hierarchies.
ExampleYou should consult your primary care physician if the pain continues for more than a week.
ExampleThe hospital's chief physician oversaw the diagnostic department, ensuring that every patient received a comprehensive evaluation before beginning treatment.
UsageOften used in formal documents, insurance forms, and professional titles rather than in casual conversation.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'physicist'. Remind them that 'physician' is for medicine and 'physicist' is for science.
PitfallI need to see a physicist about my back pain.I need to see a physician about my back pain.A physicist is a scientist who studies physics; a physician is a medical doctor.
From Middle English fisicien, from Old French fisicïen (“physician”) (modern French physicien (“physicist”)), from fisique (“art of healing”), from Latin physica (“natural science”), from Ancient Greek φυσική ἐπιστήμη (phusikḗ epistḗmē, “knowledge of nature”), from φυσικός (phusikós, “pertaining to nature”). Displaced native Middle English læche, leche, archaic English leech (“physician”). Morphologically physic + -ian.