dr

Dr is an honorific prefix used before the name of a person who has earned a doctoral-level academic degree or who is licensed to practice medicine in many countries. The exact usage varies by country and profession. In some places the title is reserved for physicians; in others it is extended to any holder of a doctoral degree such as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Education (EdD), or other professional doctorates like Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO).

The term derives from the Latin doctor, meaning teacher. In medieval European universities, doctors were recognized as experts who could teach and adjudicate in a field. Over time, the title came to denote holders of doctoral degrees through the modern university system, while medical doctors are commonly addressed as Dr. regardless of whether their degree is a physician’s or a research doctorate.

Usage varies by country and style guide. In the United States and many other English-speaking countries, both physicians and some doctorate-holders are addressed as Dr., with differences noted in formal writing guidelines. In British English, the period after Dr. is often omitted in contemporary usage. In German contexts, physicians and other doctors may be listed as Dr. med. or similar qualifiers, reflecting the specific doctoral path.

Etiquette typically favors addressing a physician or a holder of a doctoral degree as Dr. [Last Name] in formal communication. In casual speech, many people simply use the surname or first name after introduction. The title serves as a professional and academic marker in many societies.