# veterinarian

/ˌvɛtɝəˈnɛɹiən/ (US) · /vˌɛtəɹɪnˈeəɹiən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/veterinarian
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. animal doctor

noun · CEFR B1

a doctor who treats sick or injured animals.

For teachers: a medical practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat diseases and injuries in animals.

- We took our cat to the veterinarian because she stopped eating her food.
- The veterinarian performed a complex surgery on the horse to repair a fracture it sustained during the race.

Usage: Often shortened to 'vet' in everyday conversation.

Teaching tip: While 'veterinarian' is the full formal term, 'vet' is much more common in daily speech; however, 'veterinarian' is preferred in professional or academic writing.

### 2. relating to animal medicine

adjective · CEFR C1 · American English · Technical

relating to the medical care of animals.

For teachers: relating to the medical treatment of animals; synonymous with the more common adjective 'veterinary'.

- She is applying to veterinarian school to become a doctor for pets.
- The university expanded its veterinarian department to include a new research wing for exotic species.

Usage: Used attributively before a noun.

Teaching tip: In most contexts, 'veterinary' is the standard adjective; using 'veterinarian' as an adjective is primarily an American English convention.

## Examples

- The veterinarian gives the dog a health checkup.
- After the cat stopped eating, we took her to the veterinarian to see if she had an infection.
- While some veterinarians focus exclusively on domestic pets like cats and dogs, others specialize in livestock or exotic wildlife conservation.

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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.