veterinarian
gb/vˌɛtɚənˈɛɹiən/ us/vˌɛtɚənˈɛɹiən/
B1
English
~ 7500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
doctor for animals
A doctor who takes care of sick or injured animals.
Usage pattern:
to take [an animal] to a veterinarian
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "veterinarian" with "veteran" (a person who has served in the military) or "vegetarian" (a person who does not eat meat) because the words look similar. Another common mistake is to think that "vet" always means a doctor for animals; in some contexts, especially as a verb, "to vet" can mean to check something carefully, which is different from "veterinarian" as a noun.
Synonyms
vet (More informal and much more common in everyday speech, especially in British and American English.)
|
veterinary surgeon (Mainly British English; slightly more technical and formal, emphasizes surgical training.)
|
animal doctor (Informal and descriptive; often used to explain the word to children or learners.)
Antonyms
layperson (A person without professional or specialized medical training; contrasts with the veterinarian’s professional expertise.)
Collocations
see a veterinarian
|consult a veterinarian
|licensed veterinarian
|practicing veterinarian
|emergency veterinarian
|small-animal veterinarian
Themes
animals
|healthcare
|science
|health
Examples
- Our dog was limping, so we made an appointment with a veterinarian.
- The veterinarian recommended a special diet to help control the cat’s diabetes.
- After graduating from veterinary school, she became a large-animal veterinarian in a rural area.
- The zoo’s head veterinarian oversees the health of hundreds of animals.
- If your rabbit stops eating, you should call a veterinarian right away.
Learner examples
- I took my sick cat to the veterinarian.
- The veterinarian gave my dog some medicine.
- My sister wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.
- You should see a veterinarian if your pet looks weak.
- The veterinarian said our puppy is healthy.
Grammar
Dictionary form
veterinarian
IPA
GB/vˌɛtɚənˈɛɹiən/
US/vˌɛtɚənˈɛɹiən/
Syllables & stress
veter - in - ari - an (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ari)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: veterinarian
- Plural: veterinarians
Word family
Forms
veterinarians
noun
Core family
veterinary
adjective B2
vet
noun B1
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.