Meaning & use
radiology
Last updated
Meanings
noununcountablemedical
The medical specialty that uses imaging such as X-rays to diagnose and treat illness.
Grammar: No plural; say 'a branch of radiology', not 'a radiology'.
Patterns
- in radiology
- a department of radiology
She trained in radiology after medical school.
The hospital's radiology department has two new scanners.
noununcountablemedical
The process of producing and interpreting medical images for diagnosis.
Grammar: Often used after 'have' or 'undergo' when referring to the procedure.
Patterns
- have radiology
- undergo radiology
He had radiology to check for a fracture.
Radiology confirmed that the tumor had shrunk.
Common combinations
- interventional radiology
- Interventional radiology uses images to guide small procedures.
- diagnostic radiology
- Diagnostic radiology focuses on identifying disease.
- radiology department
- The radiology department is on the second floor.
- radiology technician
- A radiology technician took the X-ray.
Synonyms and how they differ
- medical imaging
- Focuses on the pictures themselves rather than the medical field.
- roentgenology
- An older term for radiology, now rare.
Word family
- radiologist noun
- A doctor who specializes in radiology.
- radiological adjective
- Relating to radiology.
- radiographer noun
- A technician who operates imaging equipment, not a doctor.
Commonly confused: radiology or radiologist? radiology or radiographer?
radiology vs radiologist
Radiology is the field; a radiologist is the doctor who works in it.
radiology vs radiographer
A radiographer takes the images; a radiologist interprets them.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
Radiology is the medical specialty, and a doctor in that field is a radiologist. A radiographer operates equipment but does not specialize in radiology as a physician. 'Radiation' and 'radiology' are not job titles.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “radiology”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.