Word
OSHA
Phoneticsos·ha
/ˈoʊʃə/
Definitions
01US safety agency
n. Stands for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. This is the US government group that creates and enforces rules to protect workers from accidents or illness.
n. Abbreviation for Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The primary US federal agency tasked with regulating workplace safety and health environments.
“The factory manager had to update the safety signs to meet OSHA requirements.”
“Following the industrial accident, OSHA inspectors arrived on-site to determine if the company had violated federal safety protocols.”
American English · Technical
Usage
Usually functions as a proper noun; often used as a modifier before other nouns like 'regulations', 'inspectors', or 'standards'.
Teaching tip
This is a very common term in American business and legal contexts. Even though it is a specific US agency, the term is often used metonymically to refer to workplace safety rules in general within the US.
02a medicinal herb
n. A plant found in the Rocky Mountains that some people use as a traditional medicine for coughs or sore throats.
n. A perennial herb (Ligusticum porteri) native to the Rocky Mountains, traditionally used in herbal medicine for its antiviral and antibacterial properties.
“The guide pointed out the osha plant growing along the mountain trail.”
“Ethnobotanists have studied the osha root for its historical significance in indigenous medicinal practices throughout the American Southwest.”
American English · Technical
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the species or the herbal preparation.
Teaching tip
This sense is highly specialized and rare outside of botany or herbalism circles in the Western United States.
Synonyms
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/osha