public health

noun

: the art and science dealing with the protection and improvement of community health by organized community effort and including preventive medicine and sanitary and social science

Examples of public health in a Sentence

a disease that poses a serious threat to public health She got her degree in public health. Public health officials warned of an influenza outbreak.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The recall does not currently pose a significant public health threat. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 But that message is undercut by Kennedy’s continued mixed messages, public health funding cuts and the muzzling of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), experts added. Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025 These outbreaks, combined with severe cuts to public health infrastructure, could reverse decades of progress in life expectancy and well-being. Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025 This study, which was published in the journal Neurology, comes when clinicians and public health advocates are raising awareness of alcohol use disorder and issues related to excessive alcohol consumption. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for public health

Word History

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of public health was in 1617

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Cite this Entry

“Public health.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20health. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

Medical Definition

public health

noun
pub·​lic health ˌpəb-lik- How to pronounce public health (audio)
: the art and science dealing with the protection and improvement of community health by organized community effort and including preventive medicine and sanitary and social science

More from Merriam-Webster on public health

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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