pediatrician

pediatrician — noun

1. a doctor whose job is to care for babies, children, and teenagers when they are

1.nounC1
Definition

a doctor whose job is to care for babies, children, and teenagers when they are sick or need health checks.

Example

Lina took her sick son to a pediatrician after school.

pattern: take a child to a pediatrician

The pediatrician checked Maya's ears and told her to rest.

typical examination context

Common collocations
  • see a pediatrician
  • take a child to a pediatrician
  • call the pediatrician
  • become a pediatrician
  • pediatrician visit
Synonyms
  • paediatrician

    same meaning; this is the usual British spelling

  • children's doctor

    everyday phrase rather than a formal job title

  • family doctor

    broader; may treat both adults and children, so not always a specialist for children

Antonyms
  • geriatrician

    a doctor who specializes in the care of older adults instead of children

Grammar Patterns

a pediatrician

take a child to a pediatrician

call the pediatrician

work as a pediatrician

Usage Note

Usually used for doctors who treat babies, children, and teenagers rather than adults. In everyday speech, families may also say 'children's doctor'; in British English, the same job title is usually spelled 'paediatrician'.

Common Mistakes

My daughter saw a pediatric for her ear pain.
My daughter saw a pediatrician for her ear pain.
'pediatric' is an adjective; the doctor is a 'pediatrician'.
We took our son to pediatrician yesterday.
We took our son to a pediatrician yesterday.
the singular noun needs an article.

2. the spelling used in American English for paediatrician.

2.nounC1
Definition

the spelling used in American English for paediatrician.

Example

American parents usually search online for a pediatrician, not a paediatrician.

American spelling contrast: pediatrician / paediatrician

The Boston clinic changed paediatrician to pediatrician on its English website.

editing for a US audience

Common collocations
  • American spelling
  • pediatrician not paediatrician
  • document set to American English
Synonyms
  • paediatrician

    same meaning; this is the standard spelling in British English and many other varieties

Grammar Patterns

pediatrician (American English)

pediatrician not paediatrician

Usage Note

American variety only; British English normally writes paediatrician for the same doctor. Keep one spelling throughout a document instead of mixing the two forms.

Common Mistakes

The London leaflet introduced our new pediatrician.
The London leaflet introduced our new paediatrician.
British publications usually prefer 'paediatrician'.

Word family

  • paediatrician
    nounC1
  • pediatric
    adjectiveC1
  • paediatric
    adjectiveC1
  • pediatrics
    nounC1
  • paediatrics
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Pediatrician and paediatrician name the same kind of doctor; the difference is spelling. Pediatrician is the usual American form, while British English normally writes paediatrician. Children's doctor is an everyday phrase that helps when the listener may not know the medical term, but it sounds less official. Family doctor is broader, because a family doctor may treat adults as well as children, so not every family doctor is a pediatrician. Specialist is broader too, since it can mean any doctor with advanced training in one area. Compare We took Eva to a pediatrician for her rash with Our family doctor treats both grandparents and children.

pediatrician ↗paediatricianchildren's doctorfamily doctorspecialist ↗

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Pediatrician is a modern medical word in English, built from pediatric and the ending -ian, which often names a person connected with a field. The deeper roots are Greek: pais, paid- meant 'child', and iatros meant 'doctor' or 'healer'. British English usually keeps the older spelling paediatrician, while American English simplifies ae to e.