Synonyms

well-being

American

[wel-bee-ing] / ˈwɛlˈbi ɪŋ /

noun

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.

Usage

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.

Etymology

Origin of well-being

First recorded in 1605–15

Compare meaning

How does well-being compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

wellness vs. well-being

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"As clinicians, we see the negative impact this has on women's physical and psychological well-being, and the impact on their families and wider society," he said.

From BBC

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Pediatrics this month found a “U-shaped association” between after-school social-media usage and emotional well-being among Australian adolescents.

From The Wall Street Journal

Giving Iraqis a stake in their nation’s well-being could have bolstered the country’s stability and economic strength.

From The Wall Street Journal

For her final engagement of the day, the princess joined Mind Over Mountains, a charity offering professional mental health support through therapeutic outdoor experiences, for a supported well-being walk in the Peak District.

From BBC

But rising energy costs are still taking a toll on people’s financial well-being.

From MarketWatch

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023