From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishlocumlo‧cum /ˈləʊkəm $ ˈloʊ-/ noun [countable] British English MNa doctor or priest who does another doctor’s or priest’s work while they are on holiday, ill etc
Examples from the Corpus
locum• In Ghosh, the accused, a surgeon acting as a locum in a hospital, claimed fees for performing operations.• But then I asked for just one spell of six months as a locum in some exotic place.• Not that Joanna was like that when she did a locum in the practice where we met.• It's better than getting a locum in - they cost the earth and sometimes do more harm than good.• A locum consultant failed to spot the result of her earlier test and arranged for a totally unnecessary exploratory operation.• The referring doctors included trainee general practitioners and locums as well as the partners.• Revised guidance due early this year will included strengthened guidance on these checks for hospital locums and other staff.Origin locum (1900-2000) locum tenens “someone who takes someone else's place for a time” C17- 21), from Latin, “holding the place” 