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
This comprehensive system aims to improve medication management for users and enable health care providers to monitor patient adherence remotely, potentially enhancing overall health outcomes.
—Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
The changes announced Saturday didn't apply to UCLA Health or health care staff, Frenk said.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
The report also emphasizes the importance of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City’s partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department to connect housing with health care services, aiming to improve residents’ health outcomes.
—Sherell Jackson, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2025
This approach can lead to healthier communities and a more efficient health care system overall.
—Ann Marie P. Mauro, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for health care 
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Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
The changes announced Saturday didn't apply to UCLA Health or health care staff, Frenk said.
—Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
The report also emphasizes the importance of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City’s partnership with the Baltimore City Health Department to connect housing with health care services, aiming to improve residents’ health outcomes.
—Sherell Jackson, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2025
This approach can lead to healthier communities and a more efficient health care system overall.
—Ann Marie P. Mauro, New York Daily News, 11 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for health care
Articles Related to health care
Dictionary Entries Near health care
Cite this Entry
“Health care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/health%20care. Accessed 18 Jan. 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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