physician

noun

phy·​si·​cian fə-ˈzi-shən 

plural physicians

1

: a person trained in the art of healing

specifically : a health care professional (such as a dermatologist, internist, pediatrician, or urologist) who has earned a medical degree, is clinically experienced, and is licensed to practice medicine as usually distinguished from surgery : a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathic medicine

2

: someone or something that has a beneficial effect or influence

Do justice with mercy. That is what, in essence, the brilliant physician of the heart and soul, Maimonides, tried to teach us 900 years ago.

—Jack Weinstein

Synonyms of physician

• doctor

Examples of physician in a Sentence

you should always consult a physician if you develop a high fever

Recent Examples on the Web

As an emergency physician, what is so maddening about a case like hers is that the medicine is not mysterious. — Dara Kass, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Yesterday, Allessandra DiCorato profiled cancer biologist and first-year resident physician Neal Carleton, whose work is focused on improving treatment for older patients with breast cancer. — Sarah Todd, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Yet since the American Medical Association Code of Ethics explicitly forbids physician participation in capital punishment, executions are rarely, if ever, performed by expert clinicians. — Dr. Jacob Appel, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026

Carney is a faculty physician with University Health Physicians and the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine, according to the lawsuit. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English phisicien, fisicien, from Anglo-French, from phisique medicine

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing physician

• family physician
• physician assistant
• physician-assisted suicide
• physician associate
• physician's assistant
• physician's associate

Rhymes for physician

• addition
• admission
• ambition
• attrition
• audition
• clinician
• cognition
• coition
• commission
• condition
• contrition
• dentition

Kids Definition

physician

noun

phy·​si·​cian fə-ˈzish-ən 

: a specialist in healing human diseases

especially : one educated and licensed to practice medicine

Medical Definition

physician

noun

phy·​si·​cian fə-ˈzish-ən 

: a health care professional who has earned a medical degree, is clinically experienced, and is licensed to practice medicine : a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathic medicine