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

In the meantime, alpha-gal is a rare challenge to public health. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026

This latest heatwave is not an isolated event — each summer brings higher temperatures and greater risks for infrastructure and public health. — Taco Engelaar, Fortune, 30 June 2026

In addition, some states have moved to bar both private and public health insurance plans from covering gender-affirming procedures. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 30 June 2026

Adopting a reporting window of about 72 hours would align with protocols already used in industries such as aviation, nuclear power, and public health emergencies. — Mark Minevich, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1617, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for public health

• commonwealth
• telehealth
• bridewealth
• stealth
• wealth

Medical Definition

public health

noun

pub·​lic health ˌpəb-lik- 

: 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