veterinarian

noun

vet·​er·​i·​nar·​i·​an ˌve-tə-rə-ˈner-ē-ən  ˌve-trə- 

ˌve-tə-ˈner-

plural veterinarians

: a person qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine

Other diagnostic procedures that may be used include imaging techniques such as ultrasound and bronchoscopy, which enables a veterinarian to examine the interior of an animal's airway …

—Tom Ewing

If your cat shows signs of anaphylaxis, take it to a veterinarian immediately.

—Amy D. Shojai

Examples of veterinarian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The dog was humanely euthanized following a risk assessment by veterinarians and animal behavior specialists, and clinical tests by Cook County later confirmed the dog had rabies. —Noel Brennan, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

That issue has emerged for various reasons, Goh and other area veterinarians said, but the primary problem is that many veterinarians fall under the umbrella of a bigger corporation, and as with humans, the cost for care seems only to go up. —Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 21 Dec. 2025

Thankfully, there’s an attractive veterinarian (Kimberley Sustad) nearby. —Janey Tracey, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Dec. 2025

This dream came to life on Maxine's sixth birthday with Little Chonk, a dog bag line carefully crafted with input from veterinarians and orthopedists. —Lex Goldstein, PEOPLE, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for veterinarian

• authoritarian
• communitarian
• disciplinarian
• egalitarian
• equalitarian
• humanitarian
• majoritarian
• octogenarian
• parliamentarian
• radiolarian
• totalitarian
• utilitarian

Kids Definition

veterinarian

noun

vet·​er·​i·​nar·​i·​an ˌvet-ə-rən-ˈer-ē-ən  ˌve-trən- 

ˌvet-ᵊn-

: a person who is qualified and has been given the authority to treat diseases and injuries of animals

Medical Definition

veterinarian

noun

vet·​er·​i·​nar·​i·​an ˌvet-ə-rən-ˈer-ē-ən  ˌve-trən- 

ˌvet-ᵊn-

: a person qualified and authorized to practice veterinary medicine