“M.D.” vs. “Ph.D.” vs. “Dr.”: Are They Synonyms?
Quick: when you hear the word doctor , what do you picture?
Most would probably describe someone in a white lab coat with a stethoscope hanging around their neck or someone in medical scrubs—someone you would seek out if you have a deep cut that needed stitches.
That word doctor , however, is a title assigned to many who don’t come close to that description, many of whom you wouldn’t want stitching up that cut. Take your English professor, for instance. No offense, Dr. Barrett.
It can all be a bit confusing, which is why it’s important to know who and why someone might be called a doctor , as well as what all those initials and abbreviations after their name mean. Here we break it all down.
What does Dr. mean?
Let’s start with doctor or D r . for short. While the first definition of the word is “ a person licensed to practice medicine,” that doesn’t mean you want to take medical advice from anyone who calls themselves a doctor . There are many looser definitions of the word that follow and, frankly, make things a bit confusing.
For example, the third definition is older slang for a “cook, as at a camp or on a ship,” while the seventh entry is “an eminent scholar and teacher.” Bugs Bunny didn’t help matters either by plying anyone and everyone with his famous greeting,“What’s up, doc?”
The term doctor can be traced back to the late 1200s, and it stems from a Latin word meaning “to teach.” It wasn’t used to describe a licensed medical practitioner until about 1400, and it wasn’t used as such with regularity until the late 1600s. It replaced the former word used for medical doctors— leech , which is now considered archaic.
WATCH: When Did The Word "Doctor" Become Medical?
Physician vs. doctor : are these synonyms.
While the term physician is a synonym for doctor , it’s typically used to refer to those who practice general medicine rather than those who perform surgery, aka surgeons .
A quack , on the other hand, is defined as “ a fraudulent or ignorant pretender to medical skill.”
What does M.D. mean?
Moving on to initials that carry more weight than a nod from Bugs, let’s look at M.D.s .
M.D. , which can be used with or without the periods ( M.D. or MD ) is the designation for a medical doctor. This is earned by attending medical school (typically a four-year program after completing at least one undergraduate degree, plus a residency program), and learning to diagnose patients’ symptoms and offer treatment.
The initials M and D stem from the Latin title Medicīnae Doctor. There are many different types of doctors, with different specialties, but if you have a physical ailment, visiting a doctor with the initials M.D. is a good place to start.
Specialty doctors may add even more initials to their title, such as DCN (doctor of clinical nutrition), DDS (doctor of dental surgery), or countless others they acquire with additional training. To make things even more confusing, some may add abbreviations from medical associations they belong to, such as FAAEM (Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine).
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What does Ph.D. mean?
As for Ph.D. , this stands for “doctor of philosophy.” It stems from the Latin term Philosophiae Doctor.
You can get a Ph.D. in any number of subjects, from anthropology to mythological studies. It’s not an easy feat, however, as to earn one, you must do original research and write a dissertation .
Ph.D. vs. M.D .: are these synonyms?
There are two big differences between Ph.D. s and M.D .s. When it comes to medicine, M.D.s can prescribe medications, and Ph.D.s can’t. And yes, it’s possible to be both an M.D. and a Ph.D. In fact, some med schools offer programs in which you can achieve both simultaneously.
You can also get a professional doctorate degree in a number of fields. For example, you might receive a doctorate of education, an Ed.D .
So, in a nutshell, both M.D.s and Ph.Ds can be referred to as doctors . If you’re looking for someone to treat what ails you physically, then you want at least an M.D. following their name. If you want to dig deep into a subject and get advice from someone who has done their own research and who likely knows the latest and greatest developments in a particular area, then you’re probably looking for a Ph.D. And if someone has both, even better—depending on your needs, it may be just what the doctor ordered.
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PHD Meaning: Here’s What It Means and How to Use It?
You’ve likely seen the abbreviation PHD — but what is the meaning of PHD? We’ll tell you. Read on as we explore this common acronym.
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There are several ways to abbreviate words in the English language — hence why there are so many acronyms and abbreviations found in the dictionary today.
While some terms are pretty self-explanatory, like “Feb,” which stands for “February,” there are some acronyms that could use a bit of explaining — such as Ph.D.
Although Ph.D is an abbreviation with more than one meaning, it commonly refers to a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D): spelled with a capitalized “P,” lowercase “h,” and uppercase “D.”
Interested in learning more? We can help. Read on as we explore the abbreviation Ph.D to uncover its meaning, origin, and more. Are you ready? Let’s dive in.
What Does PhD Mean?
Ph.D — aka Doctor of Philosophy — is defined by Dictionary.com as the highest degree awarded by a school in a field of academic study. A doctorate is typically awarded to an individual who has completed three or more years of graduate study and a dissertation approved by a committee of professors.
Common abbreviations used for the doctor of philosophy include:
- Ph.D.
After completing the Ph.D degree or dissertation, a graduate can use Dr. or Ph.D. For example:
- Dr. Suzie Johnson or
- Suzie Johnson (Ph.D) or
- Dr. Suzie Johnson (Ph.D)
What Is the Origin of Ph.D?
Abbreviated from the Latin term philosophiae doctor meaning “doctor of philosophy,” the Ph.D is the highest degree in most fields, with the notable exceptions of medicine and law that have their own doctorates. The degree originated in 19th century Germany when the word “philosophy” had the much broader meaning of “love of wisdom.”
Though universities have existed in Europe long before the 19th century, the degrees that medieval universities awarded to students had more in common with the MD than with the Ph.D, as they required mastery of already existing knowledge.
In 1861, Yale University became the first institution of higher education in the United States to award the degree, conferring it on three recipients; Arthur W, Wright, James M. Whiton, and Eugene Schuyler. A few decades later, Canada accepted Ph.D as their highest level of honor, and in 1917, the doctoral of philosophy was introduced in all disciplines of the subjects.
How Can I Use Ph.D in a Sentence?
Now that you understand what Ph.D means, let’s take a look at some examples of this acronym in a sentence:
“After telling him I earned an academic degree, he bragged for the rest of the night about having a Ph.D .”
“I can’t decide what academic field to get my Ph.D in.”
“Tom can’t work full-time because he is a Ph.D student and has to work on his thesis.”
“My mom is thinking about going back to school to complete a Ph.D program in psychology.”
“I am in the second year of my Ph.D program.”
“Whether you like physics, chemistry, or psychology, you can find a Ph.D program on campus,”
“Look, I understand that you’re my supervisor, but I am looking to get my Ph.D degree and ultimately become a doctor of medicine; in other words, I have to study and can’t pick up more than one shift per week.”
“Have you taken the exams yet to get your Ph.D ?”
“Did you know that some Ph.D programs accept a portfolio of published papers?”
“To get a Ph.D , it’s important to study hard and get good grades.”
“Gosh, I didn’t realize how many seminars and workshops I’d have to attend to get a Ph.D !”
“A Ph.D comes with a pretty hefty fee, so be sure to apply for scholarships.”
What Is a Doctorate?
Simply put, a doctorate is any qualification that awards a doctoral degree. To qualify for one, you need to produce work at a high level that makes a significant new contribution to knowledge in your academic field. Doing so earns you the title “Doctor.”
Many people believe a doctorate and a Ph.D are the same. However, this is not the case, as a Ph.D is a type of doctorate, such as a Doctor of Philosophy. Other doctoral degrees or types of doctorate include:
- Doctor of Education
- Doctor of Theology
- Doctor of Medicine
- Doctor of Musical Arts
- Doctor of Literature
- Doctor of Divinity
- Doctor of Civil Law
- Doctor of Science
According to the American Psychological Association, the Ph.D is intended for students interested in gaining new knowledge through scientific research, or teaching experience.
Does PHD Stand For Anything Else?
Although the abbreviation PHD is most commonly associated with the Doctorate of Philosophy, it does have a few other meanings:
- Pizza Hut Delivery
- Press Here, Dummy
- Permanent Head Damage
- Pretty Heavy Drinker
- Please Hire Desperate
- Preparing His Disciples
- Player Hating Degree
- Power Hungry Dog
- Premium Hot Dog
- Pretty Heavy Dude
- Poor, Hungry, and Determined
A Final Word
So, what does PHD mean, you ask?
Simply put, PHD is an abbreviation that stands for many words; however, it’s most commonly used to abbreviate “Doctor of Philosophy.”
We hope this guide has provided you with all of the information you need to understand the meaning of PHD fully. To discover more interesting words and strengthen your overall vocabulary, be sure to check out our website , where you’ll find definitions, grammar tips, and more!
- A Brief History of the PhD | NeuWrite West
- Ph.d. Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- The First American Doctor of Philosophy Degree: A Centennial Salute to Yale, 1861-1961 | The Journal of Higher Education
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
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