# veterinary

/ˈvɛtɹəˌnɛɹi/ (US) · /vˈɛtəɹˌɪnəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/veterinary
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. animal medicine

adjective · CEFR B1

used to describe the medical care and health of animals.

For teachers: relating to the medical or surgical treatment of animals. Often used attributively before a noun.

- She is studying veterinary medicine because she wants to help sick pets.
- The clinic provides a wide range of veterinary services, including emergency surgery and routine vaccinations for local livestock.

### 2. an animal doctor

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a person who is trained to treat sick or injured animals.

For teachers: a medical professional qualified to treat animals. While 'veterinarian' or 'vet' is more common in speech, this form appears in formal contexts.

- The veterinary checked the horse's leg to see if it was broken.
- The senior veterinary at the zoo oversaw the complex procedure to relocate the injured elephant to a specialist facility.

## Examples

- She is studying veterinary medicine to become a horse doctor.
- The local veterinary clinic offers emergency services for pets during the night and on weekends.
- Advancements in veterinary science have significantly extended the life expectancy of domestic animals through better diagnostic tools and specialized surgical procedures.

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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.