clinician
|cli-ni-cian|
🇺🇸
/klɪˈnɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/klɪˈnɪʃ(ə)n/
bedside practitioner
Etymology
'clinician' originates from English, specifically formed from the noun 'clinic' plus the agent suffix '-ian', where 'clinic' ultimately comes from Greek 'klinikē' (from 'klíne' meaning 'bed').
'clinic' entered Late Latin as 'clinicus' and Old French as 'clinique'; from these forms the English 'clinic' developed, and the agent-forming suffix '-ian' produced 'clinician' in modern English.
Initially related to the idea of the 'sickbed' or 'bedside' (care given at the bed), but over time it evolved into the current meaning of 'a healthcare practitioner engaged in clinical (patient-facing) work.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a health-care professional (such as a physician, nurse, or therapist) who is directly involved in patient care in a clinical setting rather than primarily in research or administration.
The clinician reviewed the patient's history and recommended a change in medication.
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Noun 2
a practitioner who assesses and treats patients (often used to emphasize practical, bedside experience rather than theoretical or laboratory work).
As a clinician, she preferred to spend most of her time seeing patients rather than writing grants.
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Last updated: 2025/10/19 21:01