veterinarian

noun

vet·​er·​i·​nar·​i·​an ˌve-tə-rə-ˈner-ē-ən  ˌve-trə- 

ˌve-tə-ˈner-

plural veterinarians

: a person qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine

Other diagnostic procedures that may be used include imaging techniques such as ultrasound and bronchoscopy, which enables a veterinarian to examine the interior of an animal's airway …

—Tom Ewing

If your cat shows signs of anaphylaxis, take it to a veterinarian immediately.

—Amy D. Shojai

Examples of veterinarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Strahovski plays Maggie, a veterinarian and the Chenoweth family matriarch, who’s just discovered her husband, James (Scott Speedman), had an affair. —Sophie Hanson, StyleCaster, 31 Oct. 2024

If the rodent has eaten poison, as is commonly used for pest control, the cat eating it is also at risk and should be seen by a veterinarian immediately. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

As constitutional term limits bar Lacalle Pou from running for a second consecutive term, the governing party’s candidate is Álvaro Delgado, 55, a congressman and Lacalle Pou’s former chief of staff, who started his career as a veterinarian. —Nayara Batschke and Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024

What happened on Alaska Airlines flight with French bulldogs? Before departing for the East Coast, a veterinarian confirmed that both dogs were healthy enough to make the trip, the lawsuit says. —Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

veterinarian

noun

vet·​er·​i·​nar·​i·​an ˌvet-ə-rən-ˈer-ē-ən  ˌve-trən- 

ˌvet-ᵊn-

: a person who is qualified and has been given the authority to treat diseases and injuries of animals

Medical Definition

veterinarian

noun

vet·​er·​i·​nar·​i·​an ˌvet-ə-rən-ˈer-ē-ən  ˌve-trən- 

ˌvet-ᵊn-

: a person qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine