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

Total clinic compensation includes pay of primary care physicians, medical specialties, surgeons and advanced practice nurses and physician assistants. — Bruce Japsen, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Casper last saw his primary care provider in February 2024, according to the autopsy report, when he was diagnosed with a cough, congestion and metabolic disease. — ABC News, 29 June 2026

Manage chronic medical conditions, following up with your primary care provider or specialists as needed. — Mark Stibich, Verywell Health, 25 June 2026

There will also be 24 new exam rooms, tripling the primary care exam space. — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 19 June 2026

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