Patients vs Patience
Patients and Patience may look similar and sound the same, but they have different meanings and uses. Patients is a plural noun meaning individuals receiving medical attention. Patience, pronounced the same as patients, is a noun meaning the ability to be patient. Patient, an adjective, means “able to wait without complaint.”
Here are some definitions and examples to help clarify the meaning of these words.
Patients (plural noun)
Individuals receiving medical attention.
Examples:
On busy days, the doctor’s office has a waiting room full of patients.
The psychiatrist always cared for her patients’ needs.
In both examples, patients describes individuals receiving medical attention. In the second example, patients is made into a possessive plural noun by adding an apostrophe after the s.
Patience (noun)
The ability to be patient.
Examples:
His mother always told him patience is a virtue.
She refused to wait in the long line; patience was not her strong suit.
In both examples, patience acts as a noun meaning the ability to be patient.
Main Points
- Patients is a plural noun meaning individuals receiving medical attention.
- Patience is a noun meaning the ability to be patient.
- Patient, an adjective, means “able to wait without complaint.”
Both words are pronounced the same.