Health

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Health

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

helth  /hɛlθ/

Definition

The state of being free from illness or injury; a person's physical or mental condition; the general condition or soundness of something non-physical, such as a financial system or relationship.

Plain meaning

Health is the state of being well — physically and mentally. Good health means the body and mind are functioning well and free from disease. The word also applies metaphorically to organisations, economies, and relationships: the health of the economy, the health of a democracy.

Register

Neutral and universally important. Health is used in medical, social, political, and economic contexts. The metaphorical extension — the health of an economy, a democracy, a relationship — is standard and widely used.