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Medicine vocabulary · Hospital Departments and Staff

General practitioner

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˌdʒenərəl prækˈtɪʃənər/nounCore term

In medicine, general practitioner means: A doctor based in the community who treats a wide range of everyday health problems, provides long-term care and refers patients to hospital specialists when needed.

In Turkish: aile hekimi, pratisyen hekim

How it is used

Almost always shortened to GP in the UK, Ireland and Australia; in the US people say 'family doctor', 'family physician' or 'primary care physician' (PCP). Hospital doctors write letters to the GP and ask patients to see their GP.

Example sentences

  1. Her general practitioner referred her because of a lump in her breast.

  2. The letter will go to your general practitioner, so they know about the new medicine.

Common collocations

  • see your GP
  • GP surgery
  • GP referral
  • letter to the GP
  • GP practice
  • referralThe act of sending a patient to another doctor, specialist team or service for an opinion, tests or treatment; also the letter or request that does this.
  • consultantIn the UK and some other countries, a senior hospital doctor who has finished specialist training and has final responsibility for a team's patients.
  • outpatientA patient who visits a hospital or clinic for an appointment, test or treatment without staying overnight; also used as an adjective for this kind of care.
  • surgeryTreatment in which a doctor cuts into the body to repair, remove or replace something; also the medical specialty that does this.
  • dischargeTo officially let a patient leave hospital or a clinic's care because they no longer need it there. As a noun it can also mean fluid that comes out of the body.

More terms: Hospital Departments and Staff

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.