PCP

1 of 2

noun

ˌpē-(ˌ)sē-ˈpē How to pronounce PCP (audio)
: phencyclidine

PCP

2 of 2

abbreviation

1
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
2
primary care physician; primary care provider

Examples of PCP in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Patients in rural environments have less trouble finding a PCP and even shorter wait times. — Christopher P. Childers, STAT, 10 July 2026 Most plans allow customers to pick their own PCP. — Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 16 June 2026 The 49-year-old speedster who killed one man and wounded four others in a wild Harlem crash had smoked both marijuana and PCP before getting behind the wheel, prosecutors said Saturday. — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026 Hernandez reportedly was using the powerful hallucinogenic PCP (known as angel dust) and carrying a gun everywhere. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for PCP

Word History

Etymology

Noun

phenyl + cycl- + piperidine

First Known Use

Noun

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of PCP was in 1968

Browse Nearby Words

PCO
PCP
pcpn
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“PCP.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/PCP. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

PCP

1 of 2 noun
ˌpē-ˌsē-ˈpē How to pronounce PCP (audio)
1
: phencyclidine
2
: pentachlorophenol
3
: a health care professional and especially a physician who is authorized (as by an HMO) to provide primary care

PCP

2 of 2 abbreviation
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia

More from Merriam-Webster on PCP

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about PCP

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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