patients

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'patients' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use the word 'patients' to refer to people who are receiving medical treatment. For example, "The doctor had many patients waiting to be seen in her office."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For patients with concession cards and children aged under 16 the fee will apply for only the first 10 services in each year.

The Guardian

Based on a true story, its stars McConaughey as an AIDS sufferer who smuggles drugs for other patients to treat the HIV virus in the early days of the disease in the 1980s.

The Guardian - Film

On a composite "healthy lives" score, which includes deaths among infants and patients who would have survived had they received timely and effective healthcare, the UK came 10th.

The Guardian

In a presentation to the national rural health conference in Darwin last week, Chalmers and Smith reflected on the personal toll the last year took on them and their patients who are primarily from the Rio Tinto community.

The Guardian

In general, non-urgent consultant-to-consultant referrals are no longer carried out, and this means patients are referred back to their GP.

The Guardian

Child and adolescent mental health referrals are accepted only if they have severe mental health difficulties; GPs are asked to manage the remaining patients, yet we are not trained in child psychiatry.

The Guardian

Professor Willem Kuyken, director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, leads the Aspire Project, a study set up in 2013 to investigate patients' access to MBCT across the UK.

The Guardian

Verbal and written feedback from patients has been largely very positive and measures of depression and anxiety on average show a significant reduction following the course.

The Guardian

Related: Mental health charities can help people where the NHS cannot "To improve access to MBCT we need a combination of top-down action, such as getting commissioners and senior managers on board, and bottom-up action... pro-active mindfulness teachers and trainers setting up high quality local services and encouraging GPs to refer patients who would benefit from MBCT treatment," he says.

The Guardian

The financial crisis has certainly squeezed health budgets across the EU, and in Germany, consultants say that the state cannot afford the appropriate treatment for the large numbers of depression patients who present.

The Guardian

He carefully scrubbed up with alcohol gel before meeting patients at London's National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "patients" when referring to individuals under the care of a doctor or healthcare provider. It is a standard and widely understood term in medical contexts.

Common error

Be specific about the "patients" you're discussing. Instead of broadly referring to "patients", specify the demographic, condition, or treatment they are receiving for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The term "patients" functions primarily as a plural noun, denoting individuals who are receiving medical care or treatment. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts related to healthcare and medical settings. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of its grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "patients" is a grammatically sound and highly frequent term used to refer to individuals receiving medical care. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Predominantly found in "News & Media", it maintains a neutral register suitable for professional and general discussions. Alternative phrases such as "individuals receiving care" can be used depending on the specific context. Employing "patients" ensures clarity and maintains a respectful tone in health-related content. The analysis also highlights the importance of specificity when referring to "patients" and the need to avoid generalizations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

those under treatment

Highlights the ongoing process of treatment.

sick individuals

Directly refers to individuals experiencing illness.

individuals receiving care

Focuses on the act of receiving care, broadening the scope beyond just medical treatment.

people with illnesses

Similar to 'sick individuals' but with a slightly broader scope.

care recipients

Highlights the 'receiving' aspect of care, applicable in various care settings.

healthcare recipients

Emphasizes the receiving aspect within a healthcare context.

hospitalized individuals

Specifies that the individuals are currently in a hospital setting.

medical cases

Shifts the focus to the medical aspect of the individuals' situations.

clinic attendees

Indicates individuals who regularly visit a clinic.

the afflicted

Emphasizes suffering from a disease or ailment.

FAQs

How to use "patients" in a sentence?

You can use "patients" to refer to people receiving medical care, as in "The doctor examined several "patients" this morning".

What can I say instead of "patients"?

Depending on the context, you could use "individuals receiving care", "healthcare recipients", or "medical cases".

Which is correct, "patients" or "clients" in a medical setting?

"Patients" is the standard and more appropriate term in medical settings. "Clients" is more commonly used in other service industries.

What's the difference between "patients" and "residents" in a healthcare context?

"Patients" are individuals receiving medical treatment, while "residents" typically refer to people living in long-term care facilities.