Meaning & use
a clinician
Last updated
UK/ə klɪˈnɪʃən/
US/ə klɪˈnɪʃən/
Meaning
nouncountablemedical
A healthcare professional, such as a doctor or nurse, who treats patients directly.
Grammar: Countable: a clinician, two clinicians.
Patterns
- see a clinician
- consult a clinician
- a clinician at a hospital
The patient was examined by a clinician at the clinic.
Clinicians often work long hours.
She is a clinician specializing in pediatric care.
Word forms
| plural | clinicians |
|---|
Common combinations
- experienced clinician
- The hospital hired an experienced clinician to lead the department.
- clinician's judgment
- The treatment plan was based on the clinician's judgment.
- primary clinician
- Your primary clinician will coordinate your care.
Synonyms and how they differ
- doctor
- Doctor specifically means a medical doctor, while clinician can also include nurses and other healthcare providers.
- practitioner
- Practitioner is broader and can refer to any professional practice, including law or accounting.
Word family
Commonly confused: a clinician or clerk?
a clinician vs clerk
A clerk is an office worker, not a healthcare professional.
Practice
Which of the following is a clinician?
Choose one answer.
A clinician is a healthcare professional who treats patients, such as a nurse or doctor. Lawyers, teachers, and engineers are not clinicians.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a clinician”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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