Word
physician
Phoneticsphysi·cian
US/fəˈzɪʃən/
UK/fɪzˈɪʃən/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a formal word for a doctor who is trained to treat people who are ill.
n. 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.
Examples
“The physician examines the patient carefully.”
“After several tests, the primary care physician referred the patient to a specialist for further evaluation.”
“The hospital's ethics committee includes a senior physician to ensure that clinical decisions align with both medical standards and the patient's long-term welfare.”
Examples
simple
“The physician examines the patient carefully.”
contextual
“After several tests, the primary care physician referred the patient to a specialist for further evaluation.”
complex
“The hospital's ethics committee includes a senior physician to ensure that clinical decisions align with both medical standards and the patient's long-term welfare.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “physician” in context.
Verb
01. consult a physician
“You should consult a physician if the symptoms persist for more than three days.”
verb + noun
02. refer to a physician
“The nurse practitioner decided to refer the patient to a physician for further evaluation.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
03. attending physician
“The attending physician is responsible for overseeing the resident's clinical decisions.”
adj + noun
04. licensed physician
“The document must be signed by a licensed physician to be legally valid.”
adj + noun
05. primary care physician
“Most insurance plans require you to select a primary care physician for routine check-ups.”
adj + noun + noun
Noun
06. advice of a physician
“He decided to quit smoking on the advice of a physician after his last check-up.”
noun + of + noun
07. physician assistant
“The physician assistant conducted the initial physical exam before the doctor arrived.”
noun + noun
Usage
Often used in formal documents, insurance forms, and professional titles rather than in casual conversation.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'physicist'. Remind them that 'physician' is for medicine and 'physicist' is for science.
Pitfall
I 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.
Real-World Examples
“Berger’s 1967 book A Fortunate Man paid gorgeous tribute to Dr John Sassall, a country physician from the Forest of Dean whose work at times bordered on the supernatural.” “Earlier this year, the Guardian commissioned the esteemed forensic physician Prof Jason Payne-James to examine the injuries from the crime scene.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Idioms
- 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
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/physician