noun
veterinarian
veht-ruh-NEHR-ee-uhn
noun
1
A doctor trained and qualified to treat animals.
"The veterinarian examined the horse's injured leg."
How to Use Veterinarian
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe formal term for an animal doctor, often shortened to "vet".
UK vs US
More common in American English; British English tends to prefer "vet" or "veterinary surgeon".
Word Forms
veterinarians plural
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The _____ examined the horse's injured leg.
Etymology
From Latin veterinarius, "of cattle or draught animals", ultimately connected to vehere, "to carry" — reflecting the word's roots in caring for working animals.