ENGLISH
REFERENCE

health

n. uncountable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈhɛɫθ// UK //hˈɛlθ// health Archaic General-service

n. the condition of your body and mind. When you have good health, you feel well and are not sick.

n. the state of being free from illness or injury; the general condition of a person's physical or mental well-being.


SIMPLE

Exercise is very important for your health.

CONTEXTUAL

The doctor asked several questions about my family history to get a better understanding of my overall health.

COMPLEX

Public policy experts argue that access to clean water and green spaces is just as vital to community health as the availability of modern medical facilities.

Synonyms
Antonyms
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”).

Usage

Typically used without an article when referring to the general state of well-being.

Pitfall

He is in a good healthHe is in good healthHealth is uncountable and does not take an indefinite article when used as a general mass noun.

Idioms1 entry

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