médecin

See also: medecin

French

Etymology

Inherited from Middle French medecin, a back-formation from Old French medeciner (“to treat medically”). Replaced Old French mire, mege, meide, meie, etc. inherited from Latin medicus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /med.sɛ̃/, /mɛd.sɛ̃/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

médecin m (plural médecins)

1. physician; (medical) doctor

   Synonym: (slang) toubib

Usage notes

Used for both male and female physicians: there is no separate feminine form, although when referring to a woman it may take the feminine article, la médecin.

Derived terms

• médecin légiste
• médecin traitant
• médecin vétérinaire

 

Related terms

• médecine
• médical
• médicament
• médicinal

 

See also

• docteur

Further reading

• “médecin”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.