Meanings
alternative Dr. Google · alternative Dr Google
- InternetinformalThe Internet when used to seek out medical advice.
Using “Dr Google” for health purposes is controversial. Some have expressed concerns that it can lead to inaccurate diagnoses, bad advice on where to seek treatment (triage), and increased anxiety (cyberchondria).
2021 March 29, Natalie Grover, “Looking up health symptoms online less harmful than thought, study says”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 24 Mar 2022
Origin
Alluding to the Google search engine being the surname of a medical professional.
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
Doctor Google. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Doctor%20Google
“Doctor Google.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Doctor%20Google. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Doctor Google,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Doctor%20Google.
Source: Doctor Google on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.