A1 noun Neutral #2,289 most common

patient

/ˈpeɪ.ʃənt/

A patient is a person who is receiving medical care or treatment from a doctor, nurse, or hospital. This term is used for anyone under medical supervision, whether they are staying in a hospital or just visiting a clinic.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The patient is waiting for the doctor in the exam room.

The person receiving medical care is waiting for the doctor in the exam room.

2

Each patient must sign a consent form before the procedure.

Every person being treated must sign a permission form before the operation.

3

How is our patient doing after the surgery?

How is the person we are looking after feeling after their operation?

Word Family

Noun
patient
Adverb
patiently
Adjective
patient
Related
patience
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'Patient' having to have 'Patience' while sitting in the waiting room to see a doctor.

Quick Quiz

The doctor is seeing a new _____ right now.

Correct!

The correct answer is: patient

Examples

1

The patient is waiting for the doctor in the exam room.

everyday

The person receiving medical care is waiting for the doctor in the exam room.

2

Each patient must sign a consent form before the procedure.

formal

Every person being treated must sign a permission form before the operation.

3

How is our patient doing after the surgery?

informal

How is the person we are looking after feeling after their operation?

4

The study observed fifty patients over a six-month period.

academic

The research looked at fifty people receiving treatment for six months.

5

We aim to improve patient satisfaction in all our clinics.

business

We want to make sure the people we treat are happy with our services.

Word Family

Noun
patient
Adverb
patiently
Adjective
patient
Related
patience

Common Collocations

treat a patient to give medical care to a person
examine a patient to look at a person's body to check for illness
patient care the services provided to a person by medical staff
admit a patient to bring a person into the hospital for stay
patient records the medical history and files of a person

Common Phrases

inpatient care

treatment for people who stay in the hospital

outpatient clinic

a place for patients who do not need to stay overnight

patient confidentiality

the rule that a patient's information must be kept private

Often Confused With

patient vs patience

Patience is a noun meaning the ability to wait calmly, while a patient is a person receiving medical help.

📝

Usage Notes

The noun 'patient' is used exclusively in a medical context. Even though the adjective 'patient' means 'calm and able to wait', the noun refers only to the person being treated.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse the spelling of the noun 'patient' with 'patience'. Also, remember that 'patient' is a countable noun, so you must use 'a' or 'the' or make it plural.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'Patient' having to have 'Patience' while sitting in the waiting room to see a doctor.

📖

Word Origin

From the Latin word 'patiens', which means 'suffering' or 'enduring'.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun plural: patients often follows verbs like 'treat', 'help', or 'examine'
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Cultural Context

In modern healthcare, some prefer the term 'client' or 'service user' to empower the individual, but 'patient' is still the most common clinical term.

Quick Quiz

The doctor is seeing a new _____ right now.

Correct!

The correct answer is: patient

More Health words

head

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The upper part of the human body that contains the brain, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It is supported by the neck and is the center for the senses and thinking.

ear

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The ear is the organ on the side of the head that humans and animals use to hear sounds. It also helps the body maintain its sense of balance.

mouth

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The opening in the lower part of the human face, surrounded by the lips, through which food is taken in and sounds and speech are emitted. It contains the teeth and the tongue and is the beginning of the digestive tract.

tooth

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A tooth is one of the hard, white objects in your mouth used for biting and chewing food. Humans have two sets of teeth during their lives: primary (baby) teeth and permanent (adult) teeth.

shoulder

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The shoulder is the part of the human body where the arm connects to the trunk. It consists of a large joint that allows the arm to rotate and move in many directions.

finger

A1

One of the five long, thin parts at the end of the human hand. Fingers are used for feeling, touching, and gripping objects.

stomach

A1

The organ in your body where food goes after you eat it to be broken down. It is also the front part of your body below the chest and above the legs.

leg

A1

A leg is one of the long parts of the body that humans and animals use for standing, walking, and running. It refers to the entire limb starting from the hip down to the ankle.

foot

A1

The foot is the part of the body at the bottom of the leg that a person stands on. It is used for balance, walking, running, and jumping.

toe

A1

A toe is one of the five separate parts at the end of the human foot. They help provide balance and support the weight of the body while standing or walking.

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