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

From there, Nuckolls took the pup to a local veterinarian for an exam and to check for a microchip. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025

The veterinarian donated his services, Walden said, and a local animal control officer helped transport him to the airport. —Cathie Anderson, Sacbee.com, 14 Dec. 2025

The dog died after receiving treatment for smoke inhalation at the emergency veterinarian clinic, the nonprofit said in its statement. —Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 12 Dec. 2025

If not for Smith’s bellwether notice in the Village Voice, and that paper’s hungry downtown audience, Shepard might well have initiated his fallback plan to return to college and live a quiet life as a veterinarian in the San Gabriel Valley. —Literary Hub, 12 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