# health

/ˈhɛɫθ/ (US) · /hˈɛlθ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/health
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical and mental wellness

noun · CEFR A1

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

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

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

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

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

### 3. a toast

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

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

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

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

### 4. gaming

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

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

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

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

## Examples

- Exercise is very important for your health.
- The doctor asked several questions about my family history to get a better understanding of my overall health.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.