health care

noun

variants or healthcare

ˈhelth-ˌker

also ˈheltth-

: efforts made to maintain or restore physical, mental, or emotional well-being especially by trained and licensed professionals

—usually hyphenated when used attributively

health-care providers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web In 2016, just 40% of rural counties nationwide had at least one health care provider certified to prescribe buprenorphine, according to a University of Washington study.

Tony Leys, NBC News, 30 Nov. 2022 Has your health care provider experienced a data breach?

Neena Hagen, USA TODAY, 29 Nov. 2022 The potential liquidation is the latest in a series of improbable developments for the nonprofit health care provider.

San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Nov. 2022 For babies younger than 6 months, consult your health care provider before administering a pain reliever.

oregonlive, 24 Nov. 2022 Making a bid for friendship with your health care provider is somewhat risky because doing so might shift the dynamic between you.

Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 23 Nov. 2022 Making a bid for friendship with your health care provider is somewhat risky because doing so might shift the dynamic between you.

Amy Dickinson, BostonGlobe.com, 23 Nov. 2022 Making a bid for friendship with your health care provider is somewhat risky because doing so might shift the dynamic between you.

Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 23 Nov. 2022 Making a bid for friendship with your health care provider is somewhat risky because doing so might shift the dynamic between you.

Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 23 Nov. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'health care.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1940, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of health care was in 1940

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Health care.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/health%20care. Accessed 7 Dec. 2022.

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

health care

noun

variants or healthcare

: the maintaining and restoration of health by the treatment and prevention of disease especially by trained and licensed professionals (as in medicine, dentistry, clinical psychology, and public health)

We developed penicillin, heart surgery and transplants, among many other breakthroughs that have transformed health care.

Thomas Fishbein

Medicare payments for home healthcare will also be reduced by $40 billion over 10 years.

Peter Grier

Pregnant health care workers should wash their hands more frequently than usual and be extra-careful when handling infectious objects.

Maria LaPiana

—sometimes hyphenated when used before another noun

health-care providershealth-care coverage