hygiene

[ hahy-jeen ]

noun

1. Also the science that deals with the preservation of health.
2. a condition or practice conducive to the preservation of health, as cleanliness:

   Poor personal hygiene can lead to health issues such as skin infections.

   Mental hygiene in children should be constantly monitored by parents and teachers.

3. a beneficial or recommended practice or set of practices (used in combination):

   Using the same password on all of your important accounts is simply not good password hygiene.

hygiene

/ ˈhaɪdʒiːn /

noun

1. Also calledhygienics the science concerned with the maintenance of health
2. clean or healthy practices or thinking

   personal hygiene

Word History and Origins

Origin of hygiene¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from French hygiène, from New Latin hygieina, from Greek hygieinḕ (téchnē) “healthful (art),” feminine of hygieinós “healthful,” equivalent to hygiḗ(s) “healthy” + -inos -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of hygiene¹

C18: from New Latin hygiēna, from Greek hugieinē, from hugiēs healthy

Example Sentences

A global rise in cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne viral disease, is partly the result of climate change, according to a study presented last week at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

From Science Magazine

"Feminine hygiene was an issue and we have spoken to the doctor about that," he said.

From BBC

Congratulations—thanks to advancements in milk hygiene, you have not died from salmonella.

From Slate

Although head lice are not related to poor hygiene and are not considered a health hazard because they do not transmit disease, their presence can result in frequent scratching of the scalp, which can irritate the skin and lead to infection.

From Los Angeles Times

Led by John and co-authors Ruth Namazzi, MBChB, MMEd, and Robert Opoka, MD, MPH, of Makerere University; Ryan Henrici, MD, PhD, of the University of Pennsylvania; and Colin Sutherland, PhD, MPH, of the London School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the study examined 100 Ugandan children aged 6 months to 12 years who were undergoing treatment for severe malaria complications caused by Plasmodium falciparum, the deadly malaria parasite transmitted by mosquitos.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• sanitation