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health

n.
US //ˈhɛɫθ// UK //hˈɛlθ// health
  1. 1 physical and mental wellness (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the state of being well and free from illness or injury.

    the state of being free from physical or psychological disease or malfunction.

    Example

    Regular exercise and a balanced diet are essential for maintaining good health.

    Example

    The government's new initiative focuses on improving public health by reducing air pollution in major urban centres.

    Usage

    uncountable in this general sense.
  2. 2 general condition (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the physical condition of a person or a system, whether it is good or bad.

    the general condition of a person's body or the functional state of an organisation or system.

    Example

    The doctor was concerned about the patient's declining health over the last few months.

    Example

    Economists are currently debating the long-term health of the national housing market following the recent interest rate hikes.

    Usage

    often modified by adjectives like 'poor', 'failing', or 'robust'.
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  1. 3 a toast (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Formal

    a wish for someone to be happy and successful, usually made while drinking together.

    a toast drunk in honour of a person to express a wish for their well-being.

    Example

    At the end of the dinner, the host stood up to drink to the bride's health.

    Example

    The guests raised their glasses to drink to the health of the retiring professor, wishing him a long and peaceful life.

    Usage

    typically used in the phrase 'to drink to someone's health'.
  2. 4 gaming (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Informal Computing

    the amount of damage a character in a video game can take before they lose.

    a numerical value representing the amount of damage an in-game entity can withstand before being defeated or destroyed.

    Example

    I need to find a medical kit because my character's health is very low.

    Example

    The boss character has a massive health pool, requiring the players to coordinate their attacks for several minutes to achieve victory.

    Usage

    often represented visually by a 'health bar'.
    • hit points
    • HP
Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English helthe, from Old English hǣlþ, from Proto-West Germanic hailiþu, from Proto-Germanic hailiþō, from Proto-Germanic *hailaz (“whole, hale”). Cognate with Old High German heilida. Analyzable as whole, hale, or heal + -th (abstract nominal suffix). More at heal. Doublet of wholth.

Etymology 2

From Middle English heleð (“man, hero, fighter”), from Old English hæleþ (“man, hero, fighter”), from Proto-West Germanic haliþ, from Proto-Germanic haliþaz (“man, hero”). Cognate with West Frisian held (“hero”), Dutch held (“hero”), German Held (“hero”), Norwegian Nynorsk hauld (“freeman”).

Word family
Idioms1 entry

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