self-refer

verb

self-re·​fer ˌself-ri-ˈfər How to pronounce self-refer (audio)
self-referred; self-referring; self-refers

intransitive verb

1
: to refer oneself to a health care provider (such as a physician)
students self-referring to mental health professionals
health plans that allow patients to self-refer
2
of a physician : to refer a patient to a specialized medical facility (such as a medical imaging center) in which the referring physician has a financial interest

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of self-refer was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near self-refer

Cite this Entry

“Self-refer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-refer. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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