public health

noun

1. health services to improve and protect community health, especially sanitation, immunization, and preventive medicine.

Other Word Forms

• public-health adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of public health¹

First recorded in 1610–20

Example Sentences

It’s becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy in which the “public” in public health is erased, ignoring the deeply rooted fact that an individual’s health cannot and never will be isolated from everyone else.

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These particulates can damage public health, but regulation has caused industries to limit their emissions to the point where they now pose little risk.

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Doctors and public health experts are warning people to take precautions, including getting this year’s flu shot.

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Co-author Professor Paola Zaninotto from UCL's Department of Epidemiology & Public Health said: "We don't want to discourage people from exercising outdoors. Checking air quality, choosing cleaner routes, or easing off intensity on polluted days can help you get the most health benefits from your exercise."

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Yellow fever continues to pose a significant public health threat in areas of South America and Africa.

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