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.
Loading your audio article California air quality regulators late Friday approved a plan to strengthen limits on the planet-warming emissions from gasoline and diesel fuels, a move expected to raise gas prices while bringing public health benefits. Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 Recommendations for vaccine approval, use and coverage under certain federal health plans are made by advisory panels to the FDA and CDC, which are composed of outside public health and medical experts. Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024 Zoom in: There are two competitive open seats on the Board of Supervisors — the body responsible for countywide services, like public health and Election Day operations. Jessica Boehm, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024 And then there's a difference between putting someone like him potentially in charge of all public health agencies, as well as women's health which is giving a lot of fodder for Vice President Kamala Harris and for Democrats to seize and pounce on this. ABC News, 3 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near public health

Cite this Entry

“Public health.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/public%20health. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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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