psychiatrist
gb/səkˈaɪətɹɪst/ us/səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
B2
English
~ 7000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
medical doctor for mental illness
A doctor who is trained to help people with mental health problems and can give medicine and other treatments for these problems.
Usage pattern:
[someone] works as a psychiatrist
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse 'psychiatrist' with 'psychologist'. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can usually prescribe medicine; a psychologist usually has a degree in psychology and often cannot prescribe medicine (depending on the country). Another mistake is using 'psychiatry' (the field) when they mean 'psychiatrist' (the person).
Synonyms
mental health doctor (More descriptive phrase; clearly shows the medical role but is less common as a fixed term.)
|
therapist (Broader term; may refer to psychologists or counselors who are not medical doctors and may not prescribe medication.)
|
shrink (Informal and somewhat humorous or slangy; can sound disrespectful in serious contexts.)
Antonyms
patient (The person receiving mental health treatment, the opposite role in the treatment relationship.)
Collocations
see a psychiatrist
|consult a psychiatrist
|child psychiatrist
|forensic psychiatrist
|psychiatrist prescribed medication
|board-certified psychiatrist
Themes
health
|medicine
|emotions
|work
Examples
- The court ordered him to see a psychiatrist before the trial began.
- After several months of therapy, her psychiatrist adjusted her medication.
- She decided to become a psychiatrist after volunteering at a mental health clinic.
- The child psychiatrist met with both the boy and his parents.
- In the hospital, the psychiatrist works closely with psychologists and social workers.
Learner examples
- I need to talk to a psychiatrist about my anxiety.
- Her psychiatrist helps her manage her stress and sleep problems.
- He is studying medicine because he wants to be a psychiatrist.
- The school asked a psychiatrist to check the student’s mental health.
- My friend’s psychiatrist changed her medicine last week.
Grammar
Dictionary form
psychiatrist
IPA
GB/səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
US/səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
Syllables & stress
psy - chi - at - rist (4 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (chi)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: psychiatrist
- Plural: psychiatrists
Word family
Forms
psychiatrists
noun
Core family
psychiatry
noun B2
psychiatric
adjective B2
Related words
Advanced or less common
psychiatrically
adverb
Expressions
child psychiatrist
1/t͡ʃˈaɪld səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
fixed phrase
psychiatrist for children and teens
A psychiatrist who is trained to help children and teenagers with mental health problems.
Examples
- The school recommended that they take their son to a child psychiatrist.
- As a child psychiatrist, she often works with families as well as patients.
consult a psychiatrist
1/kənsˈʌlt ə səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
fixed phrase
formal
ask a psychiatrist for advice
To ask a psychiatrist for professional advice or an opinion about a mental health problem.
Examples
- Patients with severe insomnia are often advised to consult a psychiatrist.
- Before changing any medication, you should consult a psychiatrist.
forensic psychiatrist
1/fɚˈɛnsɪk səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
fixed phrase
technical
psychiatrist in legal settings
A psychiatrist who works with the police, courts, or prisons to understand the mental health of people involved in crimes or legal cases.
Examples
- A forensic psychiatrist evaluated the defendant to see if he was fit to stand trial.
- The forensic psychiatrist later testified about the suspect’s mental state.
psychiatrist on call
1/səkˈaɪətɹɪst ˈɔn kˈɔl/
fixed phrase
psychiatrist available for emergencies
A psychiatrist who is not always in the hospital but is ready to come or answer if there is an emergency during a set time.
Examples
- The psychiatrist on call was asked to assess the patient in the emergency room.
- If a crisis happens overnight, the psychiatrist on call will be contacted.
see a psychiatrist
1/sˈi ə səkˈaɪətɹɪst/
fixed phrase
visit a psychiatrist for help
To go to a psychiatrist to talk about your mental health and get treatment.
Examples
- If your mood has been very low for weeks, it might be time to see a psychiatrist.
- Her family encouraged her to see a psychiatrist after the accident.