physician assistant

noun

variants or physician associate or less commonly physician's assistant or physician's associate

plural physician assistants or physician associates also physician's assistants or physician's associates

: a health care professional who is licensed and certified to provide patient care (such as in diagnosing and treating illness or injury, prescribing drugs, ordering lab tests, and assisting in surgeries) under the supervision of a licensed physician

The fields that physician assistants work in today range from primary care to surgery to oncology to geriatrics …

—Martha E. Mangelsdorf

… she was part of a workforce that included tens of thousands of physician associates … seeing her work for years alongside doctors in both family medicine and emergency care.

—The Post

A physician's assistant would admit the patients and do the workup. … He would prescribe medications …

—Joan G. O'Leary

Note: In 2021, the American Academy of Physician Associates officially changed the title physician assistant to physician associate to better reflect the clinical expertise and advanced medical training required.

called also PA

Examples of physician assistant in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Frabotta’s physician assistant program was ultimately deemed professional and eligible for up to $50,000 annually in federal loans. — Heather Hollingsworth, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026

As a young adult, Bass began working as a physician assistant at Children’s Hospital and other facilities. — Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

When seeking medical wellness treatments, consumers should verify if a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner provides medical oversight, and if a client’s medical history is reviewed before services begin. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026

The fitness entrepreneur and former emergency medicine physician assistant knew this was a serious symptom not to be ignored. — Samantha Ciaccia, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2026

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 or physician associate also physician's assistant or physician's associate

: a health care professional who is licensed and certified to provide patient care (such as in diagnosing and treating illness or injury, prescribing drugs, ordering lab tests, and assisting in surgeries) under the supervision of a licensed physician

Note: In 2021, the American Academy of Physician Associates officially changed the title physician assistant to physician associate to better reflect the clinical expertise and advanced medical training required.

called also PA