A person who is qualified to treat people who are ill or hurt; also, someone holding the highest university degree
Examples:
She was treated by her local doctor.Doctors near doctors."Oh, Doctor Keene!" The doctor heard him, and turned around.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonyms
Physician
/fəˈzɪʃən/
A person who is trained and licensed to treat sick and injured people, especially one who practices medicine as a job
Examples:
The exasperated physician shouted: "Hold your peace!He adopted the bedside manner of a family physician."You must not worry," the head physician said.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
This word has no antonyms
Ways to tell them apart:
The term doctor can refer to someone with a PhD, not just a medical professional, while physician specifically refers to someone who is a medical professional.
Physician is a more formal term for a doctor who practices medicine and often implies a higher level of specialization.
If youre talking about a medical doctor, physician' is usually the more precise term to use.
In informal settings, people are more likely to just say doctor when discussing medical professionals.
Doctor can also refer to dentists, veterinarians, and other healthcare practitioners, but physician is specifically for someone who practices medicine.