hygiene

noun

hy·​giene ˈhī-ˌjēn 

also hī-ˈjēn

1

: a science of the establishment and maintenance of health

2

: conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health

has poor personal hygiene

Brushing your teeth regularly is an important part of good oral hygiene.

see also feminine hygiene, sleep hygiene

hygienist

hī-ˈjē-nist 

ˈhī-ˌjē-, 

hī-ˈje- 

noun

Examples of hygiene in a Sentence

Poor sanitation and hygiene caused many of the soldiers to get sick.

He has very poor personal hygiene.

Brushing your teeth regularly is an important part of good dental hygiene.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those deliveries include gift cards and gas cards, clothes, food for animals, personal hygiene items and anything fire victims needed. — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026

The donations will be used for direct assistance to residents in the form of food, water, health and personal hygiene items and well as cleaning and debris removal supplies. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026

Since then, inmates have reported limited hygiene supplies, overcrowding and unfinished phone systems at the 470,000-square-foot facility. — Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026

The agency has been supplying kits with personal hygiene products to women affected by the earthquake and working to create safe spaces for women within shelters. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

French hygiène & New Latin hygieina, from Greek, neuter plural of hygieinos healthful, from hygiēs healthy; akin to Sanskrit su well and to Latin vivus living — more at quick entry 1

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hygiene

• feminine hygiene
• sleep hygiene

Rhymes for hygiene

• agin
• alkene
• allene
• ameen
• amin
• arene
• athene
• baleen
• beeline
• benzene
• between
• bromine

Kids Definition

hygiene

noun

hy·​giene ˈhī-ˌjēn 

1

: a science that deals with the bringing about and keeping up of good health in individuals and groups

2

: conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) that are aids to good health

Medical Definition

hygiene

noun

hy·​giene

ˈhī-ˌjēn also hī-ˈ

1

: a science of the establishment and maintenance of health see industrial hygiene, mental hygiene

2

: conditions or practices (as of cleanliness) conducive to health