DictionaryAI

health

noun
HELTH/hɛlθ/

Pluralhealths (some meanings)

8 meanings of health

Practice

  1. 1
    noununcountable
    Being well in your body and mind, with no illness.

    Like a machine that works well because every part is doing its job.

    Eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health.

    For my grandmother, health matters more than money.

    UsageSay in good health or good for your health (not incorrect: a good health).

  2. 2
    medical carenoununcountable
    Medical care and keeping people well, seen as a kind of work, a public service or a job for the government.

    The city spends more on health than it does on roads.

    State health officials asked everyone to stay home if they felt sick.

    UsageOften used before another word: health care, health officials.

    Similarhealthcare

  3. 3
    noununcountable
    The condition of a person's or animal's body, whether good or poor.

    Grandpa's health got worse over the winter.

    Despite her age, she is in excellent health.

    Similarcondition

  4. 4
    overall strengthnoununcountable
    How well something such as a business, the economy or a relationship is doing.

    Experts are worried about the health of the economy.

    Talking openly is good for the health of any relationship.

    UsageOften the health of something: the health of the economy.

    Similarstrength, soundness, stability

    Note
  5. 5
    video gamesnoununcountable
    In a video game, the amount of damage a character or object can take before being defeated or destroyed.

    Like a shield that gets weaker with every hit until it breaks.

    My character lost half his health in the boss fight.

    Pick up the red hearts to get your health back.

    UsageYou can lose health and get health back, like an amount of something.

    Similarlife

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 6
    toastnouncountable
    A toast that people drink to wish someone success.

    Everyone stood and drank the bride's health.

    The captain raised his glass and proposed a health to the crew.

    UsageUsually drink someone's health: they drank the bride's health.

    Similartoast

    Note
  2. 7
    nounobsoleteuncountable
    Something that cures a sickness or makes a person well again.
    Note
  3. 8
    nounobsolete
    A man, especially a brave fighter or hero.
    They, under false pretence of amity and cheer, the British peers invite, the German healths to view.
    1612, Michael Drayton, Poly-OlbionHere, healths means warriors or heroic men.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of health apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–7

From Old English hǣlþ, based on the word for "whole" or "hale" plus a suffix that makes a noun.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Meaning 8

From Old English hæleþ, meaning "man, hero, or fighter."

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

  • Health, in its obsolete sense ‘warrior, hero, man’, derives from Old English hæleþ. en.wiktionary.org
  • Old English hæleþ means ‘man, hero, or fighter’. en.wiktionary.org