Physician vs. Doctor: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 6, 2024
"Physician" typically refers to a medical professional specializing in maintaining or restoring human health, while "Doctor" can refer to any expert with a doctorate in various fields.
Key Differences
A physician is a medical professional who diagnoses and treats illnesses, primarily focusing on physical health and patient care. A doctor, however, could be any professional who has earned a doctorate degree in various fields, not limited to medicine.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
In the medical context, the term physician is exclusively used for someone trained and licensed to practice medicine. Conversely, a doctor could be an academic scholar or a professional in fields like education, law, or theology, in addition to medicine.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Physicians are directly involved in patient healthcare, including diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases. The term doctor, while it can denote a medical physician, also encompasses individuals who have achieved the highest degree of expertise in non-medical disciplines.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
In common parlance, "physician" implies a narrower scope, specifically pointing to a medical practitioner. "Doctor," however, is a broader term, often requiring context to determine whether it refers to a medical doctor or an expert in another field.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
When discussing healthcare, a physician is assumed to have the necessary training and qualifications to treat physical ailments. In contrast, calling someone a doctor does not necessarily imply a medical background; it indicates advanced academic achievement or expertise.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
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Comparison Chart
Definition
A medical professional treating physical ailments.
An expert with a doctoral degree in any field.
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Jan 06, 2024
Education
Requires a medical degree (MD or DO).
Requires a doctoral degree in various disciplines.
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Jan 06, 2024
Focus
Primarily concerned with patient healthcare.
Can focus on a wide range of fields, including but not limited to medicine.
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Jan 06, 2024
Public Perception
Seen as a healthcare provider.
Viewed as an expert or scholar.
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Jan 06, 2024
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Physician and Doctor Definitions
Physician
A healthcare professional qualified to practice medicine.
The physician diagnosed her condition as bronchitis.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
A title used to address or refer to a physician or a person holding a doctorate.
Doctor Smith will be leading today's lecture on medieval history.
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Dec 18, 2023
Physician
A doctor specializing in medical treatment as opposed to surgery.
The patient preferred consulting a physician rather than a surgeon.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
A person who is licensed to practice medicine and has trained at a school of medicine or a school of osteopathic medicine; a physician.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
Someone holding an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree.
She achieved her dream of becoming a physician after years of hard work.
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Dec 18, 2023
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Doctor
Any of certain other healthcare professionals, such as a dentist, optometrist, chiropractor, podiatrist, or veterinarian.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
A medical practitioner who focuses on disease prevention and diagnosis.
As a physician, he emphasized the importance of regular health check-ups.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
A practitioner of alternative medicine or folk medicine who does not have traditional medical credentials.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
A medical expert providing primary care.
The family physician has been taking care of their health for decades.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
A person who has earned the highest academic degree, usually a PhD, awarded by a college or university in a specified discipline.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
A person trained and licensed to practice medicine; one who has a Doctor of Medicine or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
(Archaic) A person who practices general medicine as distinct from surgery.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
Abbr. Dr. Used as a title and form of address for a person holding the degree of doctor.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
A practitioner of physic, i.e. a specialist in internal medicine, especially as opposed to a surgeon; a practitioner who treats with medication rather than with surgery.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A rig or device contrived for remedying an emergency situation or for doing a special task.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(Informal) To give medical treatment to
"[He] does more than practice medicine. He doctors people. There's a difference" (Charles Kuralt).
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
A person skilled in physic, or the art of healing; one duty authorized to prescribe remedies for, and treat, diseases; a doctor of medicine.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
Hence, figuratively, one who ministers to moral diseases; as, a physician of the soul.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
To falsify or change in such a way as to make favorable to oneself
Doctored the evidence.
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Dec 13, 2023
Physician
A licensed medical practitioner;
I felt so bad I went to see my doctor
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
To add ingredients so as to improve or conceal the taste, appearance, or quality of
Doctor the soup with a dash of sherry.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
To alter or modify for a specific end
Doctored my standard speech for the small-town audience.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(Baseball) To deface or apply a substance to (the ball) in violation of the rules in order to throw a pitch with extraordinary movement
Was ejected because he doctored the ball with a piece of sandpaper.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A physician; a member of the medical profession; one who is trained and licensed to heal the sick or injured. The final examination and qualification may award a doctor degree in which case the post-nominal letters are D.O., DPM, M.D., DMD, DDS, in the US or MBBS in the UK.
If you still feel unwell tomorrow, see your doctor.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A person who has attained a doctorate, such as a Ph.D. or Th.D. or one of many other terminal degrees conferred by a college or university.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A veterinarian; a medical practitioner who treats non-human animals.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A nickname for a person who has special knowledge or talents to manipulate or arrange transactions.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(obsolete) A teacher; one skilled in a profession or a branch of knowledge; a learned man.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(dated) Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or serve some purpose in an exigency.
The doctor of a calico-printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous colouring matter
The doctor, or auxiliary engine, also called "donkey engine"
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(transitive) To act as a medical doctor to.
Her children doctored her back to health.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(transitive) To make (someone) into an (academic) doctor; to confer a doctorate upon.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(transitive) To physically alter (medically or surgically) a living being in order to change growth or behavior.
They doctored their apple trees by vigorous pruning, and now the dwarfed trees are easier to pick.
We may legally doctor a pet to reduce its libido.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(transitive) To genetically alter an extant species.
Mendel's discoveries showed how the evolution of a species may be doctored.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(transitive) To alter or make obscure, as with the intention to deceive, especially a document.
To doctor the signature of an instrument with intent to defraud is an example of forgery.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A teacher; one skilled in a profession, or branch of knowledge; a learned man.
One of the doctors of Italy, Nicholas Macciavel.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
An academical title, originally meaning a man so well versed in his department as to be qualified to teach it. Hence: One who has taken the highest degree conferred by a university or college, or has received a diploma of the highest degree; as, a doctor of divinity, of law, of medicine, of music, or of philosophy. Such diplomas may confer an honorary title only.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
One duly licensed to practice medicine; a member of the medical profession; a physician.
By medicine life may be prolonged, yet deathWill seize the doctor too.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
Any mechanical contrivance intended to remedy a difficulty or serve some purpose in an exigency; as, the doctor of a calico-printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous coloring matter; the doctor, or auxiliary engine, called also donkey engine.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
To treat as a physician does; to apply remedies to; to repair; as, to doctor a sick man or a broken cart.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
To tamper with and arrange for one's own purposes; to falsify; to adulterate; as, to doctor election returns; to doctor whisky.
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A licensed medical practitioner;
I felt so bad I went to see my doctor
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
(Roman Catholic Church) a title conferred on 33 saints who distinguished themselves through the othodoxy of their theological teaching;
The Doctors of the Church greatly influenced Christian thought down to the late Middle Ages
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
Children take the roles of doctor or patient or nurse and pretend they are at the doctor's office;
The children explored each other's bodies by playing the game of doctor
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A person who holds Ph.D. degree from an academic institution;
She is a doctor of philosophy in physics
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
Alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive;
Sophisticate rose water with geraniol
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
Restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken;
She repaired her TV set
Repair my shoes please
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Dec 13, 2023
Doctor
A qualified practitioner of medicine; a physician.
She visited the doctor for her annual health check-up.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
A person who has earned the highest academic degree awarded by a university.
After his defense, he was officially recognized as a doctor in philosophy.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
An expert in a particular field, especially in one of the sciences or academic disciplines.
The seminar featured a well-known doctor in environmental studies.
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Dec 18, 2023
Doctor
A person providing advice or treatment in a specific area, often used humorously or ironically.
He's known among his friends as the computer doctor due to his tech expertise.
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Dec 18, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is a psychologist a doctor?
A psychologist can be a doctor if they hold a doctoral degree in psychology.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Is every physician a doctor?
Yes, in the context of medicine, every physician holds a medical degree, making them a doctor.
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Jan 06, 2024
Are all doctors physicians?
No, not all doctors are physicians; some may be experts in non-medical fields.
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Jan 06, 2024
Can a doctor be a professor?
Yes, a doctor with a Ph.D. or similar degree can be a professor in their field of study.
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Jan 06, 2024
Can a doctorate in literature be called a doctor?
Yes, someone with a doctorate in literature is entitled to be called a doctor.
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Jan 06, 2024
Do all physicians have to work in hospitals?
No, physicians can work in various settings including clinics, private practices, and research.
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Jan 06, 2024
Can a doctor be a researcher?
Yes, many doctors, especially those with Ph.D.s, engage in research.
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Jan 06, 2024
Do physicians perform surgeries?
Some physicians are trained for surgeries, but many focus on non-surgical treatments.
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Jan 06, 2024
Is a dentist considered a doctor?
Yes, dentists are doctors specializing in dental care.
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Jan 06, 2024
Are physicians always involved in patient care?
Mostly yes, but some may also work in research or administrative roles in healthcare.
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Jan 06, 2024
Can a doctor in philosophy treat patients?
No, a doctor in philosophy is not qualified to provide medical treatment.
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Jan 06, 2024
Do physicians need a Ph.D.?
No, physicians typically hold an MD or DO, not necessarily a Ph.D.
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Jan 06, 2024
Can a doctor teach at a university?
Yes, especially if they hold a Ph.D. or similar academic doctorate.
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Jan 06, 2024
Is "Doctor" used as a title for PhD holders?
Yes, "Doctor" is a title used for individuals who have earned a Ph.D.
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Jan 06, 2024
Do physicians conduct research?
Yes, many physicians conduct medical research alongside patient care.
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Jan 06, 2024
Is a chiropractor a doctor?
Chiropractors are not medical doctors but may have doctorate degrees in chiropractic.
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Jan 06, 2024
Are medical degrees and doctorates the same?
No, medical degrees are specific to medicine, while doctorates can be in various disciplines.
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Jan 06, 2024
Can a doctor without a medical degree prescribe medication?
No, only medical doctors (physicians) can legally prescribe medication.
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Jan 06, 2024
Is a veterinarian a doctor?
Yes, veterinarians are doctors specializing in animal health care.
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Jan 06, 2024
Is an MD (Doctor of Medicine) always a physician?
Yes, an MD is a qualification to practice as a physician.
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Jan 06, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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