Meaning & use
chiropodist
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableBritishmedical
A trained health worker who looks after people's feet, treating problems such as corns, nail trouble and sore skin.
Grammar: Mostly British; in the US the same job is podiatrist.
Patterns
- see a chiropodist
- a chiropodist for something
My grandmother visits the chiropodist every six weeks.
The chiropodist removed a painful corn from his toe.
If your heel hurts, ask the doctor to refer you to a chiropodist.
Word forms
| plural | chiropodists |
|---|
Common combinations
- see a chiropodist
- You should see a chiropodist about that ingrown toenail.
- visit the chiropodist
- He visits the chiropodist monthly.
- NHS chiropodist
- She is waiting for an appointment with an NHS chiropodist.
- qualified chiropodist
- Only a qualified chiropodist should cut thick toenails.
- chiropodist's clinic
- The chiropodist's clinic is next to the pharmacy.
Synonyms and how they differ
- podiatrist
- Podiatrist is the standard American word and is now also the modern professional term in Britain, so it covers the same job with a newer name.
- foot doctor
- Foot doctor is an informal phrase and may mean a medical doctor, while a chiropodist is a specific trained practitioner.
- foot specialist
- Foot specialist is a loose, descriptive term and not an official job title.
Word family
- chiropody noun
- the treatment of foot conditions
- podiatrist noun
- the American name for the same job
- podiatry noun
- the study and treatment of feet
- chiropractor noun
- a different job; treats the spine
Commonly confused: chiropodist or chiropractor?
chiropodist vs chiropractor
A chiropractor treats back, neck and joint problems by adjusting the spine, while a chiropodist treats feet.
Practice
My toenail is infected, so I made an appointment with the ______.
Choose one answer.
A chiropodist treats foot problems, including toenails. A chiropractor treats the spine, a dentist teeth, and an optician eyesight.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chiropodist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.