private practice

noun

: a professional business (such as that of a lawyer or doctor) that is not controlled or paid for by the government or a larger company (such as a hospital)
After years as attorney general, he returned to private practice.

Examples of private practice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The private practice attorney barely spent anything on his campaign, which had no website or Facebook page. Molly Smith, San Antonio Express-News, 20 Mar. 2026 The crimes allegedly occurred between 2022 and 2023 while Todd was a practicing rheumatologist and primary care physician at Charles River Medical Associates, a private practice in Framingham. Louisa Moller, CBS News, 19 Mar. 2026 Some providers say yes to leucovorin While many doctors at major health centers won't prescribe it, some parents have found physicians — often in private practice — who will. Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 16 Mar. 2026 Daya has a private practice in Los Angeles and consults with athletes in a wide range of sports from youth to professional, as well as business leaders, doctors, and musicians. Daya Grant, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private practice

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Private practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20practice. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

Medical Definition

private practice

noun
1
: practice of a profession (as medicine) independently and not as an employee
2
: the patients depending on and using the services of a physician in private practice
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster