health care
noun
variants
or healthcare
ˈhelth-ˌker 
also ˈheltth-
1
: efforts made to maintain, restore, or promote someone's physical, mental, or emotional well-being especially when performed by trained and licensed professionals
affordable health care
single-payer/universal health care
Health care is about keeping people healthy or fixing them up when they get sick.—
Ezekiel J. Emanuel
Ezekiel J. Emanuel… has invested more than $500 million to improve access to quality healthcare in rural America …—Bemidji Pioneer (online)
Bemidji Pioneer (online)… the wearable [device] market is empowering people to take charge of their own healthcare.—Rebecca Bellan
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounRebecca Bellanhealth-care costs
Residents receive their meals, assistance with medications, … limited health-care services, supervision and companionship.—Jere Daniel
Jere Daniel2
: the people and organizations that provide health care
jobs in health care
The charges speak to some of the problems that face healthcare …—Dave Newbart
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounDave Newbarthealth-care workers
the health-care system/industry
Examples of health care in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bristol Myers Squibb up 7.2% This stock came out on top because investors crowded into health care and other defensive names due to economic concerns.
—Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
The state of Florida spent nearly $660 million on health care in 2024 for immigrants who have no legal status, new data shows.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Spending on health care could be tripled, globally.
—David Vetter, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Despite skepticism from traditional health care providers, these newer businesses appeal to many types of people, not just the most woo-woo among us.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for health care
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Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
The state of Florida spent nearly $660 million on health care in 2024 for immigrants who have no legal status, new data shows.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
Spending on health care could be tripled, globally.
—David Vetter, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Despite skepticism from traditional health care providers, these newer businesses appeal to many types of people, not just the most woo-woo among us.
—Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for health care
Articles Related to health care
Cite this Entry
“Health care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/health%20care. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
health care
noun
variants
or healthcare
1
: efforts to maintain, restore, or promote someone's physical, mental, or emotional well-being especially when performed by trained and licensed professionals (as in medicine, dentistry, clinical psychology, and public health)
American health care is at a crossroads. Rapidly advancing forms of technology are dramatically improving lives. Simultaneously, U.S. citizens face enormous inefficiencies, escalating costs, uneven quality, disparities in health care, and rising numbers of uninsured people.—William H. Frist, The New England Journal of Medicine
William H. Frist, The New England Journal of MedicineSeveral reviews … reflect that telemedicine can substantially improve the quality of healthcare even under COVID-19 restrictions and measures.—Elliot Mbunge et al., Sensors International
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounElliot Mbunge et al., Sensors Internationalhealth-care coverage
2
: the personnel and organizations that provide health care
In the attempt to prevent the spread of a viral infection to and from healthcare workers, the health community generally relies on the efficacy of personal protective equipment (PPE): gloves, masks, respirators, goggles, face shields, and gowns.—Ivo Boskoski et al., Gastrointestinal Endoscopy
—sometimes hyphenated when used before another nounIvo Boskoski et al., Gastrointestinal Endoscopyhealth-care providers
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