patient

patient — noun

1. someone getting tests, advice, or treatment from a doctor, dentist, hospital, or

1.nounB1
Definition

someone getting tests, advice, or treatment from a doctor, dentist, hospital, or other health service.

Example

The nurse called the next patient into Room 4 for an X-ray.

medical setting: call the next patient

Dr. Lee explained the test results to each patient after lunch.

each patient in clinical communication

Common collocations
  • patient care
  • patient record
  • outpatient
  • treat a patient
  • patient file
Synonyms
  • case

    more clinical and impersonal; often used by medical staff

  • sick person

    only fits when the person is ill, not for routine check-ups

  • client

    used in some counselling or care services, but not the normal hospital word

Antonyms
  • doctor

    the medical professional giving treatment

  • nurse

    a trained worker caring for the patient

Grammar Patterns

treat/examine a patient

a patient of + doctor/dentist

patients in hospital

Usage Note

Often used with 'of' before a doctor's or dentist's name, as in 'a patient of Dr. Wu'. In everyday English, this word normally refers to medical or dental care, not to ordinary service customers.

Common Mistakes

The dentist saw twenty customers this morning.
The dentist saw twenty patients this morning.
doctors and dentists treat patients, not customers, in normal medical English.
My mother is a patient in Dr. Huang.
My mother is a patient of Dr. Huang.
use 'a patient of' with the doctor's name.

patient — adjective

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Patient fits situations involving delay, repetition, pain, or slow progress. A patient teacher keeps explaining and does not get annoyed. Calm is broader: someone can stay calm during an emergency even when no waiting is involved. Tolerant usually describes accepting opinions, habits, or behaviour that differ from your own, so it is more about openness than delay. Understanding stresses sympathy for another person's mistake or problem. Persistent means continuing firmly, but a persistent person may still sound impatient. Say 'Be patient while the paint dries,' but 'Stay calm during the storm,' 'Be tolerant of different customs,' and 'Be understanding when Leo forgets again.'

patient ↗calm ↗tolerant ↗understanding ↗persistent ↗

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Patient came into English from Latin patiens, a word for someone who bears or endures something. The adjective kept that idea of staying steady through waiting, pain, or difficulty. The medical noun grew from an older use meaning a person who is suffering and receiving treatment.