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hygiene

n. uncountable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈhaɪˌdʒin// UK //hˈaɪdʒiːn// hy·giene Slang

n. the practice of keeping yourself and your surroundings clean to stay healthy and prevent disease.

n. the set of practices performed to maintain health and prevent the spread of disease, especially through cleanliness.


SIMPLE

Good hand hygiene is the best way to stop germs from spreading.

CONTEXTUAL

The restaurant was closed by inspectors because it failed to meet basic food hygiene standards in the kitchen.

COMPLEX

While personal hygiene is often viewed as a private matter, it remains a critical component of public health policy in densely populated urban environments.

Synonyms
Origin

From French hygiène, from Ancient Greek ὑγιεινή (τέχνη) (hugieinḗ (tékhnē), literally “art of health”), from ὑγιεινός (hugieinós, “of health, good for the health, wholesome, sound, healthy”), from ὑγιής (hugiḗs, “healthy, sound”).

Usage

Uncountable in its general sense; often modified by adjectives like 'personal', 'dental', or 'industrial'.

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