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

Luckily for the family dog, its veterinarian lives just across the street and assured the family that their dog would be okay. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025

Officers say the German shorthair mix appears healthy, aside from a few porcupine needles, and will be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation. —Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025

However, these findings should always be discussed with a veterinarian and not used as the sole basis for medical choices. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025

Zoo veterinarians plan to treat the wound and hopefully get the croc healthy enough so the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission can release it back into the wild, Magill said. —David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 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