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

Despite having a family history of breast cancer and having had a benign lump removed from her breast in 2011, Basnyat's primary care doctor had told her at the time not to worry about undergoing regular mammograms. —Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025

Such organizations generally provide primary care services to residents with Medi-Cal coverage, the state’s last-resort health insurance program for needy or disabled residents. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025

Menopause visits will be part of the in-person and virtual primary care visits that make up One Medical’s model. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Sep. 2025

The 16,000-square-foot facility at 100 Stonehouse Court in Roseville will provide primary care, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health and dental services. —Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025

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