paramedic

noun

para·​med·​ic ˌper-ə-ˈme-dik How to pronounce paramedic (audio)
ˌpa-rə-
variants or less commonly paramedical
1
: a person who works in a health field in an auxiliary capacity to a physician (as by giving injections and taking X-rays)
2
: a specially trained medical technician licensed to provide a wide range of emergency services (such as defibrillation and the intravenous administration of drugs) before or during transportation to a hospital compare emt

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The History of Paramedic

In ground warfare, wounded troops must usually be transported from the front lines back to field hospitals, and trained paramedical personnel—that is, nondoctors, usually known as medics or corpsmen—were first widely used in such situations. It took many decades for the wartime model to be applied effectively to ordinary peacetime medicine. With advances in medical technology (such as defibrillators, for restarting a heart after a heart attack), paramedics became an essential part of emergency medicine, and today hundreds of thousands of people owe their lives to paramedics. Paraprofessionals who work only in hospitals and clinics usually go by other titles.

Examples of paramedic in a Sentence

She's training to be a paramedic.
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.
William also spoke with paramedics and other front-line workers about their experiences and the importance of providing mental health support to those working in emergency services. Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025 Visitors can meet firefighters/paramedics and see live demonstrations, fire engines and equipment and pick up safety and wildfire prevention tips. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Oct. 2025 The actor remembered that paramedics became alarmed after checking his vital signs, and he was rushed to the nearest hospital. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025 On Monday, the 66-year-old paramedic was on board the medevac helicopter that crashed onto freeway lanes of Highway 50 in East Sacramento. Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for paramedic

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of paramedic was in 1967

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Cite this Entry

“Paramedic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramedic. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

paramedic

noun
para·​med·​ic ˌpar-ə-ˈmed-ik How to pronounce paramedic (audio)
1
: a person who works in a health field by helping a physician (as by taking X-rays or giving injections)
2
: a specially trained person with a license to provide a wide range of emergency services (as the giving of intravenous drugs) before or during transport to a hospital
Etymology

from para- "alongside of, associated with in a secondary or assisting role" and medic "a person trained in or studying medical work"; para- derived from Greek para "beside, alongside of" and medic from Latin medicus "physician"

Medical Definition

paramedic

noun
para·​med·​ic ˌpar-ə-ˈmed-ik How to pronounce paramedic (audio)
variants also paramedical
1
: a person who works in a health field in an auxiliary capacity to a physician (as by giving injections and taking X-rays)
2
: a specially trained medical technician certified to provide a wide range of emergency medical services (as defibrillation and the intravenous administration of drugs) before or during transport to the hospital compare emt

More from Merriam-Webster on paramedic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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