paramedic
noun
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The History of Paramedic
In ground warfare, wounded troops must usually be transported from the front lines back to field hospitals, and trained paramedical personnel—that is, nondoctors, usually known as medics or corpsmen—were first widely used in such situations. It took many decades for the wartime model to be applied effectively to ordinary peacetime medicine. With advances in medical technology (such as defibrillators, for restarting a heart after a heart attack), paramedics became an essential part of emergency medicine, and today hundreds of thousands of people owe their lives to paramedics. Paraprofessionals who work only in hospitals and clinics usually go by other titles.
Examples of paramedic in a Sentence
Ames Alexander, Charlotte Observer, 20 Mar. 2025
Officers rendered aid to the individual until he was transported to a local hospital by Aurora Fire Department paramedics, police said.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 19 Mar. 2025
At least six people were rescued, evaluated by paramedics and released, the county’s fire department said on social media.
—Mary Gilbert, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Backed by several sheriff’s deputies, the two paramedics and three other Santa Fe firefighters inspected Arakawa’s body, which had noticeable signs of decomposition.
—Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paramedic
Cite this Entry
“Paramedic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paramedic. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paramedic
noun
from para- "alongside of, associated with in a secondary or assisting role" and medic "a person trained in or studying medical work"; para- derived from Greek para "beside, alongside of" and medic from Latin medicus "physician"
Medical Definition
paramedic
noun
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