Doctor vs. Professor: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A Doctor usually refers to a medical professional or someone with a PhD, while a Professor is an academic title for a senior teacher in a college or university.
Key Differences
A Doctor typically holds a PhD or a professional degree in medicine (MD), signifying a high level of expertise in a specific field. A Professor, on the other hand, is an academic title granted to a senior educator and researcher at a college or university, often requiring a doctoral degree.
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Dec 25, 2023
Doctors are primarily focused on medical practice, research, or teaching in their field of specialization. Professors are engaged in teaching, mentoring students, and conducting academic research, primarily in higher education institutions.
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Dec 25, 2023
The title "Doctor" is used both in academia and in clinical settings for those with a doctoral degree, while "Professor" is specifically an academic rank, reflecting one's position and tenure within an educational institution.
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Dec 25, 2023
A Doctor, particularly in medicine, is responsible for patient care, diagnosis, and treatment. A Professor’s responsibilities include teaching courses, guiding research, and contributing to academic publications.
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Dec 25, 2023
The term "Doctor" often conveys a sense of expertise in a specialized area or medical practice, whereas "Professor" is associated with academic authority, teaching, and scholarly research.
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Dec 25, 2023
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Comparison Chart
XPrimary Focus
Specialized expertise in a specific field, patient care
Teaching, academic research, and mentoring
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Educational Requirement
PhD, MD, or equivalent professional degree
Usually a PhD or equivalent, along with academic experience
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Work Environment
Hospitals, clinics, academic institutions
Universities, colleges
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Professional Responsibilities
Diagnosis, treatment, research, and possibly teaching
Teaching, research, academic administration
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Public Perception
Medical or academic expertise, caregiving
Academic authority, expertise in a field of study
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Doctor and Professor Definitions
Doctor
A Doctor is someone who has earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree.
Dr. Smith, a Doctor in physics, published a groundbreaking paper.
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Dec 25, 2023
Professor
A Professor leads research in a specific academic field.
The Professor published her findings in a renowned journal.
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Dec 25, 2023
Doctor
In some contexts, a Doctor refers to a veterinarian.
The Doctor treated the injured puppy with care.
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Professor
A Professor is an expert in a particular subject area.
The chemistry Professor is renowned for his expertise.
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Doctor
A Doctor is often seen as a symbol of trust and knowledge.
People turn to the Doctor for health advice.
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Professor
A Professor mentors students and junior faculty.
The Professor guided her students through their thesis.
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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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Oct 19, 2023
Professor
A Professor is a senior academic at a university or college.
Professor Johnson lectured on medieval history.
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Dec 25, 2023
Doctor
Any of certain other healthcare professionals, such as a dentist, optometrist, chiropractor, podiatrist, or veterinarian.
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Professor
A Professor holds authority in educational settings.
The Professor set high standards for her class.
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Dec 25, 2023
Doctor
A practitioner of alternative medicine or folk medicine who does not have traditional medical credentials.
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Oct 19, 2023
Professor
A college or university teacher who ranks above an associate professor.
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Oct 19, 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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Oct 19, 2023
Doctor
Abbr. Dr. Used as a title and form of address for a person holding the degree of doctor.
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Professor
The most senior rank for an academic at a university or similar institution, informally also known as "full professor."
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Professor
A teacher or faculty member at a college or university regardless of formal rank.
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Doctor
A rig or device contrived for remedying an emergency situation or for doing a special task.
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Professor
(archaic) One who professes something, such as a religious doctrine.
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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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Doctor
To falsify or change in such a way as to make favorable to oneself
Doctored the evidence.
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Professor
One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church.
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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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Oct 19, 2023
Professor
One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy.
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Doctor
To alter or modify for a specific end
Doctored my standard speech for the small-town audience.
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Professor
Someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university
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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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Oct 19, 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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Oct 19, 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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Doctor
A veterinarian; a medical practitioner who treats non-human animals.
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Oct 19, 2023
Doctor
A nickname for a person who has special knowledge or talents to manipulate or arrange transactions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Doctor
(obsolete) A teacher; one skilled in a profession or a branch of knowledge; a learned man.
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Oct 19, 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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Oct 19, 2023
Doctor
(transitive) To act as a medical doctor to.
Her children doctored her back to health.
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Doctor
(transitive) To make (someone) into an (academic) doctor; to confer a doctorate upon.
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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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Oct 19, 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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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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Oct 19, 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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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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Oct 19, 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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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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Oct 19, 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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Oct 19, 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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Doctor
A licensed medical practitioner;
I felt so bad I went to see my doctor
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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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Oct 19, 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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Doctor
A person who holds Ph.D. degree from an academic institution;
She is a doctor of philosophy in physics
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Doctor
Alter and make impure, as with the intention to deceive;
Sophisticate rose water with geraniol
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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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Oct 19, 2023
Doctor
A Doctor is a licensed medical practitioner.
The Doctor diagnosed her condition as acute bronchitis.
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Dec 25, 2023
Doctor
A Doctor can be an expert offering specialized advice.
The environmental Doctor advised on the project’s impact.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is 'Doctor' used outside of medicine?
Yes, for PhD holders in various fields.
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What is a Professor?
A Professor is a senior academic title in higher education.
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Do all Professors have a Doctorate?
Most do, but it's not mandatory in all fields or institutions.
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Can a Doctor also be a Professor?
Yes, if they have the necessary qualifications and are employed by an academic institution.
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Dec 25, 2023
What's higher, a Doctor or a Professor?
"Professor" is a higher academic title, but both signify high expertise.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is a Doctor?
A Doctor is a medical professional or someone with a PhD.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can someone be a professor at a community college?
Yes, community colleges often have professors with various levels of education.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is the difference between an assistant professor and a full professor?
An assistant professor is at a lower academic rank than a full professor and may have fewer responsibilities.
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Can you become a professor without teaching experience?
Teaching experience is often a requirement for becoming a professor, but research experience is also vital.
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What qualifications are needed to be a Professor?
Typically a PhD and significant academic contributions.
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Can a Doctor teach at a university?
Yes, especially if they have expertise in a relevant field.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is "Professor" used as a courtesy title for anyone teaching at a university?
No, it's reserved for individuals holding specific academic ranks.
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Dec 25, 2023
Do Doctors perform research?
Yes, many Doctors, especially those with PhDs, conduct research.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can you use "Doctor" as a generic title for anyone with an advanced degree?
It's best to use "Doctor" for individuals with professional or academic doctorates.
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Dec 25, 2023
Is it proper to address a dentist as "Doctor"?
Yes, dentists are often addressed as "Doctor" due to their dental degree (D.D.S. or D.M.D.).
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Dec 25, 2023
Do you need a specific degree to become a professor?
Typically, a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree is required for a professorship.
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Dec 25, 2023
What is the difference between an M.D. and a Ph.D. doctorate?
An M.D. is a medical doctorate, while a Ph.D. is a research-based doctorate in various fields.
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Dec 25, 2023
Can a medical doctor use "Dr." even if they don't have a Ph.D.?
Yes, medical doctors can use "Dr." based on their medical degree.
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Dec 25, 2023
Do you refer to surgeons as "Doctor" as well?
Yes, surgeons are medical doctors and are addressed as "Doctor."
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Dec 25, 2023
Can someone with a Ph.D. be called "Doctor"?
Yes, individuals with a Ph.D. are typically addressed as "Doctor."
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Dec 25, 2023
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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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