health care

noun

variants or healthcare
ˈhelth-ˌker How to pronounce health care (audio)
 also  ˈheltth-
1
: efforts made to maintain, restore, or promote someone's physical, mental, or emotional well-being especially when performed by trained and licensed professionals
affordable health care
Health care is about keeping people healthy or fixing them up when they get sick.Ezekiel J. Emanuel
… has invested more than $500 million to improve access to quality healthcare in rural America …Bemidji Pioneer (online)
… the wearable [device] market is empowering people to take charge of their own healthcare.Rebecca Bellan
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
health-care costs
Residents receive their meals, assistance with medications, … limited health-care services, supervision and companionship.Jere Daniel
2
: the people and organizations that provide health care
jobs in health care
The charges speak to some of the problems that face healthcareDave Newbart
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
health-care workers
the health-care system/industry

Examples of health care in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In State of the Union, Biden to call for action to lower health care costs Stefan Becket Stefan Becket is managing editor, digital politics, for CBSNews.com. Stefan Becket, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 But the White House outlined new ideas as well for the speech, putting forward proposals on taxes, housing, tech policy and health care. Evan Halper, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 This is especially true in rural areas like mine, where health care consolidation is driving up the cost of care for my patients. Rob Davidson, Fortune, 7 Mar. 2024 Last year, many of these public entrants were in the health care industry, including San Diego’s own RayzeBio, which went from a September IPO to a $4.1 billion buyout by Bristol Myers Squibb in December. Natallie Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2024 Wayne County Public Health didn't disclose any details about the person infected with measles who visited the health care sites in Dearborn and Dearborn Heights. Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 5 Mar. 2024 By considering these factors alongside PSA test results, health care providers can provide more informed guidance and avoid unnecessary interventions. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 And some health care experts and doctors were optimistic that the boon to Einstein would be felt beyond the campus, with a trickle-down effect that would eventually improve health care across the Bronx. Joseph Goldstein, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Shut out by the skyrocketing costs of private health care, most people are forced to seek treatment at underfunded public hospitals in a country whose health care was once the pride of the region. Washington Post, 25 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'health care.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of health care was in 1906

Dictionary Entries Near health care

Cite this Entry

“Health care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/health%20care. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

health care

noun
variants or healthcare
1
: efforts to maintain, restore, or promote someone's physical, mental, or emotional well-being especially when performed by trained and licensed professionals (as in medicine, dentistry, clinical psychology, and public health)
We developed penicillin, heart surgery and transplants, among many other breakthroughs that have transformed health care.Thomas Fishbein
Medicare payments for home healthcare will also be reduced by $40 billion over 10 years.Peter Grier
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
health-care coverage
2
: the personnel and organizations that provide health care
Pregnant health care workers should wash their hands more frequently than usual and be extra-careful when handling infectious objects.Maria LaPiana
sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun
health-care providers

More from Merriam-Webster on health care

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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