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

Acknowledging confounding factors like parental demographics, socioeconomic status, cognitive development and peer influence, the researchers argue that marijuana drove these teens to seek medical care from a primary care physician, hospital or emergency room more than their counterparts. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 31 Oct. 2025

In September, Harbor raised $130 million from DFO alongside Jim Breyer’s namesake venture capital firm, family office Martin Ventures and others to expand its chain of primary care clinics in Texas and expand its insurance business. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025

And in 2022, more than half of working primary care doctors reported burnout. —Meg Cunningham, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2025

The clinics provide primary care services such as annual wellness checks, cold and flu treatment, vaccines, diabetes management, vaccinations and behavioral health services. —Pat Maio, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 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