primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (such as a general practitioner, pediatrician, or nurse) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist

—often used before another noun

a primary care physician

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care

Examples of primary care in a Sentence

He provides primary care to inner-city patients.

Recent Examples on the Web

Watch for primary care physicians and dentists to more routinely screen partnered snorers for obstructive sleep apnea, and for CPAP and oral-appliance referrals to rise alongside sleep-divorce coverage. — Lauren Schuster, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026

In many rural areas, health centers are sometimes the only source of primary care. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

Counties on the Eastern Plains – Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Lincoln and Elbert – and many mountain communities already have a measurable shortage of primary care providers. — Jennifer Reich, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2026

Observation of Movements Is Key A psychiatrist or neurologist usually diagnoses tardive dyskinesia, and sometimes a primary care provider or other healthcare provider may diagnose it. — Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for primary care

• concessionaire
• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare

Medical Definition

primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (as a general practitioner or a pediatrician) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist for further treatment

—often used attributively

primary care physicians

primary care practice

primary care medicine

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care