locum tenens

[ loh-kuh m tee-nenz, ten-inz ]
/ ˈloʊ kəm ˈti nɛnz, ˈtɛn ɪnz /

noun, plural lo·cum te·nen·tes [loh-kuh m tuh-nen-teez] /ˈloʊ kəm təˈnɛn tiz/. Chiefly British.

a temporary substitute, especially for a doctor or member of the clergy.
Also called locum.

Origin of locum tenens

First recorded in 1635–45, locum tenens is from the Medieval Latin word locum tenēns holding the place

OTHER WORDS FROM locum tenens

lo·cum-te·nen·cy [loh-kuh m-tee-nuh n-see, -ten-uh n-] /ˌloʊ kəmˈti nən si, -ˈtɛn ən-/, noun

Example sentences from the Web for locum tenens

British Dictionary definitions for locum tenens

locum tenens
/ (ˈləʊkəm ˈtiːnɛnz) /

noun plural locum tenentes (təˈnɛntiːz)

mainly British a person who stands in temporarily for another member of the same profession, esp for a physician, chemist, or clergyman Often shortened to: locum

Word Origin for locum tenens

C17: Medieval Latin: (someone) holding the place (of another)