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

Care Ring, which reaches 8,000 patients a year, is a primary care center located near the city’s Lockwood neighborhood off Graham Street. —Charlotte Observer, 15 Aug. 2025

One study found that the closure of a rural hospital led to an 8.3% drop in primary care physicians and a 4.8% drop in obstetricians and gynecologists. —Meg Cunningham, Kansas City Star, 13 Aug. 2025

The machine was actually suggested to him by his primary care physician, both of whom are delighted with its smart design and solid construction. —Izzy Baskette, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025

Second, her primary care physician wasn’t supportive of prescribing weight-loss medication at all. —Essence, 8 Aug. 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