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
Another key player is the private sector: the power, water, and communications companies, private health care facilities, and other businesses that own and operate local infrastructure that might need to be repaired and reopened following a disaster.
—Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
The second measure would require certain health care providers to spend 98% of revenues from the discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
From routine costs — like co-pays at doctor's visits, therapy sessions and prescription medications — to unexpected medical bills, health care expenses weigh heavily on many people's budgets.
—Becca Stanek, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
The other allows private citizens to sue health care providers who perform abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for health care 
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Jess Craig, Vox, 17 Nov. 2024
The second measure would require certain health care providers to spend 98% of revenues from the discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.
—Jason Green, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
From routine costs — like co-pays at doctor's visits, therapy sessions and prescription medications — to unexpected medical bills, health care expenses weigh heavily on many people's budgets.
—Becca Stanek, theweek, 13 Nov. 2024
The other allows private citizens to sue health care providers who perform abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
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 26 Nov. 2024.
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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