Meaning & use
pediatric
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Meaning
adjectivebefore a noun
Connected with the medical care and treatment of babies, children, and teenagers.
Grammar: Used before a noun: pediatric care, pediatric ward.
Patterns
- pediatric care
- pediatric medicine
- pediatric ward
- pediatric specialist
She works in pediatric nursing, looking after sick children.
The hospital has a new pediatric unit with colorful rooms for young patients.
He decided to specialize in pediatric medicine because he loves working with kids.
Common combinations
- pediatric care
- The clinic provides excellent pediatric care for children under 12.
- pediatric ward
- The pediatric ward is on the third floor, next to the children's play area.
- pediatrician
- The pediatrician checked the baby's reflexes and weight.
- pediatric medicine
- She studied pediatric medicine and now works in a children's hospital.
Synonyms and how they differ
- child-related
- A general term, not a medical one; it can describe anything to do with children, not just medical care.
- pediatric
- In British English, the spelling is paediatric, but the meaning is the same.
Word family
- pediatrician noun
- A doctor who treats children.
- pediatrics noun
- The branch of medicine that deals with children and their diseases.
Commonly confused: pediatric or pedantic?
pediatric vs pedantic
Pedantic means too concerned with small details or rules. It sounds similar but has a completely different meaning.
Practice
The hospital opened a new _____ unit for children.
Choose one answer.
The adjective pediatric is needed before the noun 'unit'. 'Pediatrics' is a noun, 'pediatrician' is a doctor, and 'pedantic' means overly fussy about details.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pediatric”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.