m.d.

A doctor with an M.D. degree examines a patient in a clinic.

Definition

1. Noun (abbreviation):
   • Doctor of Medicine: "m.d." is a written abbreviation for "Doctor of Medicine," a professional degree or title indicating a person has completed medical training and is qualified to practice medicine.
   • Usage: Typically used after a person's name as a title (e.g., John Smith, M.D.) or in formal contexts to denote a medical doctor.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • She earned her m.d. from Harvard Medical School. (She obtained the degree of Doctor of Medicine.)
  • The patient was referred to Dr. Lee, m.d. (The patient was sent to a medical doctor with the title.)

Advanced Usage

• "M.D." as a title: In written form, "M.D." is often written with periods (e.g., Jane Doe, M.D.) and placed after the person's name. In informal or modern usage, periods may be omitted (e.g., MD).

  • The surgeon, M.D., performed the operation. (The doctor with the medical degree performed the surgery.)

• Distinction from "D.O.": "M.D." is specific to allopathic medicine, whereas "D.O." (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) is a separate but equivalent degree in the United States.

Variants and Related Words

• Doctor of Medicine (full form): the complete term for the degree.

  • He received his Doctor of Medicine degree in 2020. (He earned the full qualification.)

• M.D. (alternative spelling): without periods, commonly used in modern contexts.

  • The clinic lists all staff with their M.D. credentials. (The clinic uses the abbreviation without periods.)

Synonyms

• Medical doctor: a person qualified to practice medicine.
• Physician: a professional authorized to diagnose and treat illness.

Related Idioms

• No common idioms for "m.d." as it is a formal abbreviation. However, in medical contexts, "M.D." is often used in phrases like:
  • "Board-certified M.D.": a doctor who has passed additional exams in a specialty.

    • She is a board-certified M.D. in cardiology. (She has specialized certification.)

Notes

• Capitalization: "M.D." is always capitalized when used as a title. Lowercase "m.d." is less common but may appear in informal writing.
• Plural: The plural form is "M.D.s" or "M.D.'s" (e.g., ).