bill of health

noun phrase

1

: a certificate given to the ship's master at the time of leaving port that indicates the state of health of a ship's company and of a port with regard to infectious diseases

2

: a usually favorable report following an examination or investigation

gave the criticized textbook a clean bill of health

Examples of bill of health in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eligible dogs would need to be clinically healthy, aged between 1 and 8 years old, weighing at least 25 kilograms (55 pounds), fully vaccinated and with a clean bill of health. —Lianne Kolirin, CNN, 28 June 2024

The kinds of performances leading the Mecca of basketball to believe things might just be alright once there’s a clean bill of health at Madison Square Garden. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024

In a video shared by ZSL — the Zoological Society of London — wildlife veterinarians used stethoscopes to check each mouse’s heart and lungs, and the mice received a clean bill of health before their release. —Sarah Raza, Washington Post, 14 June 2024

If the Knicks have retained their status as a top-four seed largely without their entire starting front court available, what’s on the table when there’s a clean bill of health? —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 19 Mar. 2024

But despite its clean bill of health and demonstrable unity, NATO faces a thicket of thorny issues, and discussions in Madrid will only just begin to address them. —Charles A. Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 29 June 2022

Courts For subscribers Despite ‘clean bill of health’ for some medical issues, ‘Fat Leonard’ stayed out of jail Sept. 18, 2022 Since his return to federal custody in San Diego, Francis has made several appearances back in Sammartino’s courtroom to discuss sentencing dates. —Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2024

The bears had been given a clean bill of health from the Humane Society’s wildlife veterinary team and were microchipped and fitted with GPS collars. —Nicholas Rice, Peoplemag, 26 May 2024

Then, after the veterinarians gave them a clean bill of health, the bears were microchipped, fitted with GPS collars and released back into the wild earlier this month. —Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

bill of health

noun

ˌbil-əv- 

: a duly authenticated certificate of the state of health of a ship's company and of a port with regard to infectious diseases that is given to the ship's master at the time of leaving the port