physician assistant

noun

: a person certified to provide basic medical services usually under the supervision of a licensed physician

called also PA, physician's assistant

Examples of physician assistant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Department of Education has adjusted the definition of a professional program that is eligible for federal loan funds, excluding physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical therapists and audiologists from the list. —Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Nov. 2025

Beyond physicians, demand has soared for other health providers such as nurse practitioners, physician assistants and pharmacists. —Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 20 Nov. 2025

In some states, like Alabama and Connecticut, a physician who is supervising a physician assistant just needs to be available by radio. —Deanna Pai, Allure, 18 Nov. 2025

Wisconsin lawmakers are considering a bill to allow experienced physician assistants to practice independently. —Jessie Opoien, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for physician assistant

• coexistent
• equidistant
• inconsistent
• nonexistent
• preexistent
• consistent
• existent
• insistent
• persistent
• resistant
• subsistent
• distant

Medical Definition

physician assistant

noun

physician as·​sis·​tant

-ə-ˈsis-tənt

variants also physician's assistant

: a specially trained person who is certified to provide basic medical services (as the diagnosis and treatment of common ailments) usually under the supervision of a licensed physician

called also PA