private practice

noun

: a professional business (such as that of a lawyer or doctor) that is not controlled or paid for by the government or a larger company (such as a hospital)
After years as attorney general, he returned to private practice.

Examples of private practice in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
MacNeil, who was admitted to the state bar in 1970, spent six years working for the District Attorney’s Office, then went into private practice. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026 That the Bears essentially chose a private practice over that afternoon’s game as the best preparation for their franchise quarterback isn’t surprising. Jason Lloyd, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 With this track record of public office, Griswold should finish her term and return to private practice. Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2026 Cortica grew out of Goh's private practice in Del Mar, California, in 2014 and was formally founded in 2017. Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for private practice

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Private practice.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/private%20practice. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Medical Definition

private practice

noun
1
: practice of a profession (as medicine) independently and not as an employee
2
: the patients depending on and using the services of a physician in private practice
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!