outpatient

OWT-pay-shuhnt/ˈaʊtˌpeɪʃənt/

Pluraloutpatients

2 meanings of outpatient

1
nouncountable
A sick person who gets treatment at a hospital or clinic but goes home the same day.
Like a visitor who stops by, gets help, and then goes back home.
She came in as an outpatient and went home that same afternoon.
The clinic sees many outpatients each day.
Oppositeinpatient
Note
2
adjective
Describing care that lets the patient go home the same day instead of staying the night.
Like a quick repair done while you wait, instead of leaving something overnight.
She had outpatient surgery and was home in time for dinner.
The doctor said the treatment would be outpatient, so no hospital bed was needed.
Similarambulatory
Oppositeinpatient
Note

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Origin

Made from "out-" plus "patient."