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.
Insulet is responding with more patient support, greater involvement from primary care physicians and sales incentives that reward 90-day retention rather than simply signing up new users. Harvey Stober, CNBC, 1 Sep. 2026 Omega-3 supplements with CoQ10 and vitamin D with K can both support collagen synthesis (just check with your primary care doctor before starting them). Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026 Medical Information Under Time Constraints The time available for primary care consultations varies considerably. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026 Such payment distortions can force primary care clinicians to chase higher visit counts at the expense of these other activities and dissuade future doctors and advanced care practitioners from entering the field. Ishani Ganguli, STAT, 28 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 4 Sep. 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
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