grand rounds: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Technical, Institutional
Quick answer
What does “grand rounds” mean?
A formal, regular meeting in a hospital where medical cases are presented and discussed for educational and diagnostic purposes, typically involving doctors, residents, and medical students.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A formal, regular meeting in a hospital where medical cases are presented and discussed for educational and diagnostic purposes, typically involving doctors, residents, and medical students.
Can be used metaphorically in other professional fields (e.g., education, management) to denote a formal, comprehensive review or presentation of cases or projects for group analysis and learning.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both varieties within the medical profession. The structure and formality may vary slightly by institution, but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Associated with academic medicine, teaching hospitals, and professional development. Connotes authority, peer review, and rigorous clinical education.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US medical contexts. Virtually unknown outside professional/medical circles.
Grammar
How to Use “grand rounds” in a Sentence
The [Medical Department] held grand rounds on [Topic/Case].[Professional Title, e.g., Consultant] presented at grand rounds.Attendance at grand rounds is mandatory for [Group, e.g., residents].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “grand rounds” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They will be grand-rounding the paediatric oncology case next Thursday.
American English
- The team grand-rounded the complex diagnosis for over an hour.
adverb
British English
- He presented the case grand-rounds style, with detailed slides.
American English
- The discussion proceeded grand-rounds fashion, with many questions from senior staff.
adjective
British English
- The grand-rounds schedule is posted in the common room.
- It was a classic grand-rounds case.
American English
- She prepared a grand-rounds presentation on the latest research.
- The grand-rounds topic was fascinating.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Could be metaphorically used for a major quarterly review of key projects.
Academic
Core term in medical education and clinical science.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used by medical professionals discussing their work.
Technical
Standard term in hospital administration, medical education, and clinical practice.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “grand rounds”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “grand rounds”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “grand rounds”
- Using it as a singular noun (*'a grand round').
- Confusing it with 'ward rounds' (the daily visiting of patients).
- Using it in non-medical contexts without clear metaphorical setup.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is almost always used in the plural form 'grand rounds', even when referring to a single event (e.g., 'Grand rounds is today.').
Typically medical staff of all levels—consultants/attendings, residents, interns, medical students, and sometimes nurses or allied health professionals—depending on the institution.
'Ward rounds' are daily, practical visits to patients at their bedsides by a clinical team. 'Grand rounds' are formal, scheduled educational conferences, usually in a lecture hall, focusing on specific cases or topics.
Only metaphorically and quite rarely. For example, a university department might hold 'grand rounds' for PhD students to present their research, consciously borrowing the medical term's connotations of formal peer review.
A formal, regular meeting in a hospital where medical cases are presented and discussed for educational and diagnostic purposes, typically involving doctors, residents, and medical students.
Grand rounds is usually formal, technical, institutional in register.
Grand rounds: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈraʊndz/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡrænd ˈraʊndz/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[It's/That's] a grand rounds case. (Used to describe a complex or classic case worthy of detailed presentation.)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a 'grand' (important) event where doctors make the 'rounds' (visit) not of patient beds, but of challenging cases in a conference room.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION IS A JOURNEY (the case is 'taken around' the experts). PEER REVIEW IS INSPECTION (the case is examined from all sides).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of 'grand rounds'?