Doctor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈdäk-tər/ doc·tor

Meaning & Definition of Doctor

Doctor (noun)

  1. a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially, someone (such as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice
  2. medicine man
  3. an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church —called also doctor of the church

Doctor (verb)

  1. to give medical treatment to
  2. to restore to good condition, repair
  3. to adapt or modify for a desired end by alteration or special treatment

Doctor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person specially trained in healing human medical disorders

    "we called a doctor as soon as we realized the baby was sick"

    similar: croaker (slang), doc, medic, medico, physician, sawbones (slang)
    related: family doctor, family physician, family practitioner, general practitioner, anesthesiologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, internist, neurologist, ob-gyn, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, pathologist, pediatrician, physiatrist, podiatrist, radiologist, urologist, attending, clinician, hospitalist, specialist, plastic surgeon, surgeon, intern, resident, aidman, nurse, nurse-practitioner, EMT, paramedic, physical therapist, physiotherapist
    opposite: nondoctor, nonphysician

Doctor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give medical treatment to

    "a pledge to doctor the burn victims until they were whole again"

    similar: treat
    related: cure, heal, mend, rehabilitate, remedy, attend, care (for), dose, drug, hospitalize, minister (to), nurse

  2. to put into good shape or working order again

    "spends his spare time doctoring old clocks"

    similar: fix, mend, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp
    related: fix up, furbish, overhaul, rebuild, reconstruct, refurbish, aid, cure, heal, help, condition, prepare, ready, care (for), maintain, service, freshen, refresh, refreshen, regenerate, rejuvenate, renew, restore, revitalize, revive, adjust, correct, modify, rectify, redress, reform, right, ameliorate, better, enhance, enrich, improve, meliorate
    near: blemish, break, damage, deface, disfigure, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, ruin, spoil, vandalize, wreck, cripple, disable, maim, mangle, mutilate

  3. to change (something) so as to make it suitable for a new use or situation

    "slightly doctored his standard campaign speech for a collegiate audience"

    similar: acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition, conform, edit, fashion, fit, put, shape, suit, tailor
    related: readapt, readjust, customize, gear, match, model, pattern, attune, correct, harmonize, square, tune, establish, root, settle, acquaint, familiarize, orient, orientate, equip, prepare, prime, rehearse, harden, inure, season, toughen, alter, convert, make over, modify, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, refigure, refit, refocus, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, transform, accustom, habilitate, habituate, naturalize, ready, train, bend, fiddle (with), fine-tune, phase, register, regulate, rig
    near: misadjust

Related Entry: Family doctor (noun)

Family doctor is a different word from Doctor. The synonyms below are for family doctor, not for doctor.

  1. as in family physician, general practitioner

    similar: family physician, family practitioner, general practitioner, croaker, doc, doctor, medic, medico, physician, sawbones (slang), anesthesiologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, internist, neurologist, ob-gyn, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, pathologist, pediatrician, physiatrist, podiatrist, radiologist, urologist, attending, clinician, hospitalist, specialist, plastic surgeon, surgeon, intern, resident, aidman, nurse, nurse-practitioner, EMT, paramedic, physical therapist, physiotherapist
    opposite: nondoctor, nonphysician

Related Entry: Witch doctor (noun)

Witch doctor is a different word from Doctor. The synonyms below are for witch doctor, not for doctor.

  1. as in shaman, medicine man

    similar: medicine man, shaman, shamanist, charmer, conjurer, enchanter, mage, Magian, magician, magus, necromancer, sorcerer, voodoo, voodooist, witch, wizard, enchantress, hag, hex, sorceress, warlock, occultist, thaumaturge, thaumaturgist, theurgist, wonder-worker, crystal gazer, diviner, foreseer, fortune-teller, prognosticator, prophesier, prophet, seer, soothsayer, medium, exorciser, exorcist

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Doctor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Doctor:

Slang: croaker, sawbones
doc, medic, medico, physician, treat, fix, mend, patch, recondition, renovate, repair, revamp, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition, conform, edit, fashion, fit, put, shape, suit, tailor

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Doctor

Words with the opposite meaning of Doctor:

nondoctor, nonphysician

Related Words for Doctor

family doctor, family physician, family practitioner, general practitioner, anesthesiologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, internist, neurologist, ob-gyn, obstetrician, ophthalmologist, orthopedist, pathologist, pediatrician, physiatrist, podiatrist, radiologist, urologist, attending, clinician, hospitalist, specialist, plastic surgeon, surgeon, intern, resident, aidman, nurse, nurse-practitioner

Near Antonyms of Doctor

blemish, break, damage, deface, disfigure, flaw, harm, hurt, impair, injure, mar, ruin, spoil, vandalize, wreck, cripple, disable, maim, mangle, mutilate, misadjust

Word Forms of Doctor

Inflections: doctored, doctoring

Derived words: doctoral (adjective), doctorless (adjective), doctorship (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Doctor

Middle English doctour teacher, doctor, from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin doctor, from Latin, teacher, from docēre to teach docile

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Doctor

Words & Phrases Containing Doctor

doctor of medicine, doctor of osteopathic medicine, doctor of philosophy, family doctor, herb doctor, Juris Doctor, snake doctor, spin doctor

Frequently Asked Questions about Doctor

What does "Doctor" mean?

"Doctor" means a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially, someone (such as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a person skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially, someone (such as a physician, dentist, or veterinarian) who holds an advanced degree and is licensed to practice. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Doctor"?

Other words for "Doctor" include croaker, doc, medic, medico, physician, sawbones, treat and fix. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Doctor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Doctor"?

There are 163 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Doctor". Common alternatives include croaker, doc, medic, medico, physician, sawbones, treat, fix, mend and patch.

What is the opposite of "Doctor"?

Antonyms of "Doctor" include nondoctor and nonphysician. Near antonyms include blemish, break, damage and deface.

How do you use "Doctor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Doctor" in a sentence: "we called a doctor as soon as we realized the baby was sick"; "a pledge to doctor the burn victims until they were whole again"; "spends his spare time doctoring old clocks".

Is "Doctor" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Doctor" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Doctor" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Doctor" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Doctor"?

"Doctor" is pronounced /ˈdäk-tər/ and divided into syllables as doc·tor.