WordValeoutpatient
a patient treated without staying overnight
In more detail
1. (noun) a patient who receives medical care at a hospital or clinic without spending the night there
2. (adjective) relating to or providing care for patients who do not stay overnight
Examples
- 1. She had knee surgery as an outpatient and went home the same day.
- 2. The hospital opened a new outpatient clinic in the shopping center.
How to use outpatient
Outpatient is a standard medical term used to distinguish patients who receive treatment without overnight hospital admission from those who are admitted for longer stays. It is used both as a countable noun referring to the person and as an adjective modifying medical facilities or treatments. The term is neutral and professional, commonly found in healthcare settings, insurance documentation, and clinical contexts.
Common phrases
- outpatient clinic
- outpatient surgery
- outpatient department
- outpatient care
- outpatient procedure
- outpatient basis
Synonyms
ambulatory patient · day patient · non-resident patient
Opposites
inpatient · hospitalized patient
Word family
outpatient (noun/adjective) · outpatients (plural)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse outpatient with outpatient surgery as if they are different things, when outpatient surgery is simply surgery performed on an outpatient basis (same-day discharge).
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD