primary care

noun

: health care provided by a medical professional (such as a general practitioner, pediatrician, or nurse) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist
often used before another noun
a primary care physician

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care

Examples of primary care in a Sentence

He provides primary care to inner-city patients.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Typically, balance testing is done by a physical therapist who’s trained in balance and vestibular therapy (start with your primary care doctor who can refer you, if necessary). Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026 In November, Bronin will oppose Republican candidate Amy Chai, a physician specializing in primary care and addiction medicine. Lorie Konish, CNBC, 16 Aug. 2026 Others are referred by their primary care doctors or an ophthalmologist. Dawn Fallik, Scientific American, 11 Aug. 2026 And the gap between promise and reality with GLP-1s has landed squarely on primary care. Jeffrey Millstein, STAT, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for primary care

Word History

First Known Use

1967, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of primary care was in 1967

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Primary care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primary%20care. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Medical Definition

primary care

noun
: health care provided by a medical professional (as a general practitioner or a pediatrician) with whom a patient has initial contact and by whom the patient may be referred to a specialist for further treatment
often used attributively
primary care physicians
primary care practice
primary care medicine

called also primary health care

compare secondary care, tertiary care
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster