veterinary
VET-uhr-ih-ner-ee
/ˈvetərɪneri/
Relating to the medical care and treatment of animals.
Covers all aspects of animal medicine, from household pets to livestock and exotic wildlife.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Latin 'veterinae', which referred to beasts of burden (like horses, oxen, and donkeys). A 'veterinarius' in ancient Rome was the specialist who cared for these working animals. Over time, the scope expanded from working farm beasts to all animals.
Word relationships
- animal-medical: A descriptive phrase, whereas 'veterinary' is the formal, dedicated medical term.
Commonly confused with
- pediatric: 'Pediatric' refers to the medical care of human children, while 'veterinary' refers to the medical care of animals.
Word family
- veterinarian (noun): A qualified professional who treats diseased or injured animals.
- vet (noun/verb): An informal abbreviation for veterinarian, or to examine something carefully.
Collocations
- veterinary clinic
- veterinary medicine
- veterinary surgeon
Example sentences
- "She decided to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine because of her lifelong passion for animal welfare." A career brochure for students.
- "The dog required immediate veterinary intervention after swallowing a small plastic toy." An emergency situation with a sick pet.
Memory hook
Think of a 'veteran' animal—an old working horse that needs medical care from a 'veterinary' doctor. Veterinary care keeps our veteran animals healthy.
When not to use
Do not use when discussing human medicine, even if the treatments or biological concepts are highly similar.
Fun facts
- The world's first veterinary school was founded in Lyon, France, in 1761 by Claude Bourgelat to help combat cattle plague.
Explore more words
veterinarian, husbandry, vegan, cruelty-free, vertebrate, naval
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