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.
Women often consult primary care physicians as perimenopausal symptoms develop, and there are significant gaps in menopause knowledge among clinicians who practice internal medicine. — Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026 After the visit, the cancer survivor, their oncology team and their primary care clinician receive a care plan to help coordinate care and communication among all their providers. — Marci Lee Nilsen, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2026 The organizations said the move would improve coordination between primary care, specialty care and hospital services. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Marathon Health, a health company that provides preventative and primary care and has 3,500 employees based around the country, contracted Progyny last year to offer midlife benefits. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 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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