Public Health Terms

noun a device or drug serving to prevent pregnancy

adjective serving to prevent pregnancy

• The doctor prescribed a contraceptive pill to prevent pregnancy.
• She's on the contraceptive shot to avoid getting pregnant.
• I forgot to take my 'contraceptive thing' last night.
• Using humor as a contraceptive against stress is not a long-term solution.

adjective relating to or characterized by fever; feverish

• The patient presented with a febrile illness, requiring immediate medical attention.
• I felt really febrile last night, but I think it was just a passing fever.
• I'm burning up, must be febrile or something.
• The tension in the room was febrile, as everyone awaited the final decision.

verb to apply fumigants to disinfect or purify

• The pest control company will fumigate the entire building to eliminate any insects or rodents.
• My neighbor had to fumigate their house because of a termite infestation.
• I heard they had to fumigate the place after that wild party last night.
• In order to start fresh, sometimes we need to fumigate our minds from negative thoughts.

noun the state or quality of being in good physical or mental condition; wellness

• The healthiness of the food we eat plays a crucial role in our overall well-being.
• Eating fruits and vegetables regularly is key to maintaining good healthiness.
• I've been trying to up my healthiness game by hitting the gym more often.
• The healthiness of our relationships can greatly impact our mental and emotional well-being.

noun a state of poor physical or mental health; sickness or disease

adjective describing the poor physical or mental health of a person

• Ill-health can have a significant impact on one's quality of life.
• Dealing with ill-health can be really tough.
• I hate feeling under the weather, it's the worst.
• Ill-health is like a dark cloud hanging over everything.

noun a disease or period of sickness affecting the body or mind

• The patient was diagnosed with a serious illness that required immediate treatment.
• She's been feeling under the weather lately, might be coming down with an illness.
• I can't go out tonight, I'm feeling really sick - must be some kind of illness.
• Holding onto grudges is like a mental illness that can eat away at your happiness.

noun a disease caused by the entrance into the body of bacteria or viruses

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection.
• I heard she got an infection from that dirty cut.
• I don't want to get an infection, so I'm going to clean this wound properly.
• Negativity can spread like an infection if not addressed.

noun a noncommunicable disease or condition

adjective describing a disease or condition that is not transmitted from person to person

• Noncommunicable diseases are chronic conditions that cannot be transmitted from person to person.
• Noncommunicable illnesses like heart disease and diabetes are on the rise.
• Noncom diseases are really tough to deal with.
• The noncommunicable barriers between them seemed insurmountable.

noun a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world

• The pandemic has had a significant impact on the global economy.
• I haven't seen my friends much during the pandemic.
• This pandemic situation is really messing up our plans.
• Fear spread faster than the pandemic itself.

noun the presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance or thing that has harmful or poisonous effects

• The government is implementing stricter regulations to reduce pollution levels in the city.
• We really need to do something about the pollution in our neighborhood.
• Dude, the pollution in this area is off the charts!
• The pollution of negative thoughts was evident in her demeanor.

adjective suitable for drinking; drinkable

• The water treatment plant ensures that all water supplied to the city is potable.
• Make sure you only drink water from the tap if it's potable.
• I wouldn't risk drinking that water unless it's potable.
• His words were like potable water in the desert of misinformation.

noun a thing that is done to stop something from happening or arising

• Prevention is key in reducing the spread of infectious diseases.
• Wearing a mask is a good prevention measure to avoid getting sick.
• Taking your vitamins is a solid way to do some prevention against colds.
• Building strong relationships can act as a form of prevention against loneliness.

• Preventive measures were put in place to ensure the safety of all employees.
• Taking preventive steps can help avoid potential problems in the future.
• It's better to be safe than sorry, so always go for the preventive option.
• A stitch in time saves nine - being preventive now can prevent bigger issues later on.

verb to close or block off a place or entrance with a seal or barrier

• The police had to seal off the area to conduct a thorough investigation.
• They had to seal off the street for repairs.
• The party got so wild that the cops had to seal off the whole block.
• She decided to seal off her emotions and not let anyone see how she truly felt.

noun a person who is unwell or suffering from an illness or disease

• The doctor is attending to a sick person in the emergency room.
• I heard there's a sick person in the hospital.
• Yo, there's a sick person at the clinic, man.
• She's like a sick person, always needing attention and care.

noun a run-down or dilapidated urban area with a high concentration of poverty and social problems

• The city council is working to address the issues facing the residents of skid row.
• I heard there's a new shelter opening up on skid row.
• Don't go wandering around skid row at night, it can be dangerous.
• After losing his job, he felt like he had hit rock bottom and was living on skid row.

noun the state of being unable to sleep

• Chronic sleeplessness can have serious consequences on one's physical and mental health.
• I've been struggling with sleeplessness lately and it's really taking a toll on me.
• I can't seem to shake off this sleeplessness, it's driving me crazy.
• The constant buzzing of thoughts in my mind led to a state of sleeplessness akin to being lost in a maze.

noun the act of observing or monitoring someone or something for a specific purpose, such as security or supervision

• The government implemented surveillance measures to monitor potential security threats.
• I always feel like someone is watching me with all this surveillance around.
• Dude, the surveillance at that party was intense - I couldn't even sneak in a drink!
• Her constant surveillance of her colleagues' actions earned her the nickname 'Big Sister'.

adjective describing a quality of being able to be passed from one person to another, typically referring to a disease or infection

• The virus is highly transmittable through respiratory droplets.
• Be careful, this cold is really transmittable.
• Watch out for that flu, it's super easy to catch.
• Her enthusiasm was so contagious, it was almost transmittable to everyone around her.

noun an infectious bacterial fever with an eruption of red spots on the chest and abdomen and severe intestinal irritation

• Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by Salmonella typhi.
• My friend got really sick with typhoid fever after traveling to a foreign country.
• I heard that typhoid fever is no joke, you don't want to mess around with that.
• The spread of misinformation is like a typhoid fever infecting society, causing harm and chaos.

noun a disease that is contracted and transmitted by sexual contact, caused by microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites

• Venereal disease is a serious health concern that can be transmitted through sexual contact.
• I heard that he contracted a venereal disease after not using protection.
• She got a nasty case of VD from her ex-boyfriend.
• The spread of gossip in the office was like a venereal disease, infecting everyone with false information.

adjective relating to or involving the genitals or sexual intercourse

• The doctor diagnosed the patient with a venereal disease after conducting tests.
• I heard she got a venereal infection from her ex-boyfriend.
• I can't believe he caught a venereal disease from that one-night stand.
• The spread of rumors in the office was like a venereal disease infecting everyone's minds.

noun small animals that are harmful or annoying, such as rats or cockroaches

• The exterminator was called in to rid the building of vermin.
• I saw a mouse in the kitchen last night, we have a vermin problem.
• I can't stand those rats, they're such vermin.
• Hate is like a vermin that slowly eats away at your soul.

noun the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally

• The data breach exposed the vulnerability of the company's cybersecurity measures.
• Sharing personal information online can leave you open to vulnerability.
• I hate feeling so exposed and vulnerable around new people.
• His emotional vulnerability made him more relatable to others.

noun a display or show of moving water, such as fountains or waterfalls

• The city's waterworks department is responsible for maintaining the water supply infrastructure.
• I heard they're doing some repairs on the waterworks down the street.
• Let's go cool off at the waterworks park this weekend.
• Her tears were like a broken waterworks, flowing endlessly.

adjective capable of being transmitted or spread from one person to another

• The virus is highly transmissible through respiratory droplets.
• The flu is so transmissible, everyone in the office got sick.
• That cold is super catchy, it's so transmissible!
• His enthusiasm for the project was transmissible, spreading to everyone on the team.

noun NCD (Non-Communicable Disease) is a medical condition or disease that is non-infectious and non-transmissible.

• Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a major public health concern globally.
• My doctor told me to watch my diet to prevent NCDs.
• I heard that NCDs are on the rise among young adults.
• Neglecting your health can be like inviting NCDs to knock on your door.

noun A person or entity responsible for managing or overseeing quarantine procedures for individuals, animals, or items entering a specific area.

• The quarantine handler is responsible for ensuring that all incoming passengers follow the proper isolation protocols.
• The quarantine handler has to deal with all the new arrivals and make sure they stay in quarantine.
• Being a quarantine handler means you have to babysit all the people who are supposed to be isolating.
• As a quarantine handler, you are like a gatekeeper, keeping potential threats at bay.

noun a person who specializes in the study of viruses and viral diseases

• The virologist conducted a thorough analysis of the new virus strain.
• I heard the virologist is working on finding a cure for the flu.
• That virologist is a real virus hunter.
• The virologist is like a detective solving the mysteries of infectious diseases.

noun A person or machine that collects waste or garbage for disposal or recycling.

• The waste collector is responsible for collecting and disposing of garbage in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner.
• The waste collector comes by every Tuesday to pick up our trash.
• The waste collector dude swings by to grab our junk once a week.
• As a waste collector of negative thoughts, she made sure to dispose of any toxic emotions that came her way.

noun Violence Against Women (VAW) refers to any act of gender-based violence that results in physical, sexual, or psychological harm or suffering to women.

• Violence against women (VAW) is a serious human rights violation that must be addressed by society.
• VAW is never okay and should never be tolerated.
• Any guy who commits VAW is a total loser.
• VAW is like a dark cloud hanging over our society, affecting everyone in its path.

noun a set of attitudes and behaviors that are harmful or restrictive to men and society as a whole, often characterized by aggression, dominance, and the suppression of emotions

• Toxic masculinity is a term used to describe harmful behaviors and attitudes associated with traditional masculinity.
• Some people believe that toxic masculinity can be harmful to men's mental health.
• Guys who exhibit toxic masculinity are often referred to as 'manly men'.
• The roots of toxic masculinity run deep in our society, affecting both men and women.

noun a substance that has not been treated, filtered, or processed in any way

• The city council has implemented a new filtration system to ensure the safety of raw water before it reaches households.
• I heard that some people are actually drinking raw water straight from the river, can you believe that?
• I wouldn't touch that raw water with a ten-foot pole, who knows what's in it!
• His emotions were like raw water, unfiltered and unrefined, overflowing with intensity.

noun a medical condition characterized by a problematic pattern of substance use leading to clinically significant impairment or distress

• Substance use disorder is a clinical term used to describe a pattern of harmful use of substances such as drugs or alcohol.
• Having a substance use disorder means struggling with addiction to drugs or alcohol.
• Dealing with substance use disorder is tough, but there are resources to help.
• Substance use disorder can feel like being trapped in a cycle of dependence and cravings.

noun Human T-cell lymphotropic virus

• HTLV is a retrovirus that can lead to serious health conditions.
• I heard that HTLV is a virus that can cause some really bad stuff.
• HTLV is no joke, it can mess you up big time.
• HTLV is like a silent predator, waiting to strike when you least expect it.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun

• An acute disease is characterized by a sudden onset and short duration.
• When you have an acute disease, it hits you out of nowhere and doesn't last long.
• Getting an acute disease is like catching a quick bug that goes away fast.
• Dealing with that problem was like facing an acute disease - intense but temporary.

noun a medical term referring to the process of removing or filtering air or particles from a space

• The study of aeroscepsis is crucial in understanding air quality control.
• Aeroscepsis is all about keeping the air clean and safe to breathe.
• I never realized how important aeroscepsis is until I learned about it in class.
• Practicing aeroscepsis in your life can help clear out the toxic elements and keep you healthy.

noun a type of parasitic worm that infects the intestines of animals and humans

• Agchylostoma is a genus of parasitic nematode worms that infect the small intestine of mammals.
• I heard that agchylostoma can cause serious health issues if left untreated.
• Dude, I think I have agchylostoma after that camping trip.
• The agchylostoma of doubt gnawed at his mind, causing him to second-guess every decision.