well-being

[wel-bee-ing]

noun

1. a good or satisfactory condition of existence; a state characterized by health, happiness, and prosperity; welfare.

   to influence the well-being of the nation and its people.

Word History and Origins

Origin of well-being¹

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Mr Street became a volunteer with Brighter Futures, a local charity which offers services designed to improve people's health and well-being, after using the services himself.

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If you are focused on improving your financial well-being, it pays to look out for No. 1.

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“Safeguarding the well-being of one institution at the expense of the future of higher education writ large doesn’t work,” said Todd Wolfson, president of the American Association of University Professors.

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Nearly one-third said a breach had affected their physical well-being.

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In October, company leaders met with a group of high-school and college students from ConnectSafely, a nonprofit that promotes online well-being.

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Related Words

• comfort 
• contentment 
• happiness 
• health 
• prosperity 
• protection 
• safety 
• security 
• success 
• welfare 

When To Use

What does well-being mean?

The well-being of someone or something is its welfare or overall condition or state of health. A high level of well-being means that the overall condition is healthy and positive.Well-being can also refer to a specific aspect of one’s health, and it is often preceded by words like mental, physical, emotional, spiritual, and the like. Well-being is most often applied to people and communities but it can also be applied to things, especially organizations or institutions, such as a nation, economy, or educational system. It is sometimes spelled without the hyphen (well being) or as one word (wellbeing).Example: I hate to call out sick so close to my deadline, but I’m trying to prioritize my well-being instead of constantly pushing myself.