noun
psychiatrist
seye-KEYE-uh-trihst
noun
1
A medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental illness, often able to prescribe medication.
"Her psychiatrist adjusted her medication after the follow-up appointment."
How to Use Psychiatrist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA doctor trained in mental health who can prescribe medicine, unlike most psychologists.
Common mistake
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication; a psychologist typically cannot and focuses more on talk therapy.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
see a psychiatrist
child psychiatrist
Word Forms
psychiatrists plural
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Her _____ adjusted her medication after the follow-up appointment.
Etymology
From psychiatry plus the agent suffix -ist.