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

Experts warn the gap reflects a broader failure to confront what has become the country’s largest illicit economy, with growing impacts on the environment, public health and Indigenous communities. —ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026

In recent years, trust in health care and public health institutions has eroded for many reasons, from experiences within the health care system to broader social and political forces. —Monica L. Wang, STAT, 10 Apr. 2026

Many public health laws are designed to protect people who are innocent or vulnerable. —Marie Helweg-Larsen, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026

Many public health experts see this as part of a broader effort to sow doubt in vaccine safety and make vaccines less available to the public. —Aria Bendix, NBC news, 10 Apr. 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