आयुर्वेद या अन्य पारम्परिक चिकित्साप्रणाली का अभ्यास करने वाले चिकित्सकों को वैद्य या वैद्यराज कहते हैं। 'वैद्य' का शाब्दिक अर्थ है, 'विद्या से युक्त'। आधुनिक 'डॉक्टर' इसका पर्याय है। अधिक अनुभवी वैद्यों को 'वैद्यराज' कहते हैं। भारतीय उपमहाद्वीप के अपने निजी वैद्य हुआ करते थे जिन्हें 'राजवैद्य' कहते थे।

• भारत के कुछ भागों में 'वैद्य', 'बैद्य' या 'वैद्यन' कुलनाम भी है।

Vaidya, or vaid is a Sanskrit word meaning "doctor, physician". Vaidyan or Vaidyar is a similar term used in the southern region of India to denote a physician, particularly in Kerala.Today it is used to refer to traditional practitionerers of Ayurveda", an indigenous Indian system of alternative medicine. Senior practitioners or teachers were called Vaidyarāja ("physician-king") as a mark of respect. Some practitioners who had complete knowledge of the texts and were excellent at their practices were known as Pranaacharya. Some royal families in India had a personal vaidya in attendance and these people were referred to as Rāja Vaidya.