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

Then last year, during the mass federal government turnover, Brower took a buyout from her job as a public health consultant, and Simone said their position with the General Services Administration was eliminated. — Kyle Melnick The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026

Some experts point to worsening public health since the 2008 financial crisis, citing factors such as growing obesity, long hospital waiting times, the cost-of-living crisis and other social causes. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 Oct. 2026

Cordova said via email that the hearing was also to determine if the Murphy drill site is jeopardizing public health or safety. — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Homophobia was rampant, with homosexual men being blamed for what was becoming a global public health threat. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 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