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

El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, is facing Rogers, an ex-congressman, for the seat held by the retiring Democrat, Gary Peters. — Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026

El-Sayed, a former Michigan public health official, is in a tight race with Rogers, an ex-congressman, for the seat held by Democrat Gary Peters, who is retiring. — Joey Cappelletti, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Hawaii’s Josh Green is the sole US governor with a medical degree, and no governors have a public health degree. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

At the end of the four-hour meeting, Schiavo lamented that public health officials were not there to hear stories from the community. — Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 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