surgeon

noun

sur·​geon ˈsər-jən 

plural surgeons

: a medical specialist who practices surgery : a physician trained and qualified to perform surgical procedures

Examples of surgeon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Dr Jacqueline Brady is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in sports medicine and is the team physician for the Thorns and Fire. — Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026

When mammography became standard in the 1970s, surgeons were still performing mastectomies on most patients. — Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Teng spends time with Mark Perlmutter, a North Carolina surgeon who, like Teng’s other subjects, volunteers in Gaza, treating the many who have been severely injured in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. — Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

People flock from all corners of the country to see Mathew Varghese, a surgeon who has perhaps become the nation’s preeminent specialist for polio patients. — Eli Cahan, Rolling Stone, 21 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English surgien, from Anglo-French, alteration of cirurgien, from cirurgerie surgery

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing surgeon

• flight surgeon
• plastic surgeon
• surgeon general
• surgeon's knot
• veterinary surgeon

Rhymes for surgeon

• sturgeon
• neurosurgeon

Kids Definition

surgeon

noun

sur·​geon ˈsər-jən 

: a physician who specializes in surgery

Medical Definition

surgeon

noun

sur·​geon ˈsər-jən 

1

: a medical specialist who practices surgery : a physician trained and qualified to perform surgical procedures

2

: the senior medical officer of a military unit