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 called: hygienics. 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

He said prisoners face difficulty obtaining basic hygiene items and are not permitted to spend enough time outside of their cells.

From Los Angeles Times

More than 90% of the city's homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed, and the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed.

From BBC

More than 90% of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed and the healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed.

From BBC

The line to buy food or hygiene products at the commissary was so long that sometimes detainees left empty-handed.

From Los Angeles Times

In Iran's prison system, detainees must rely on money credited to their accounts to buy food, clean water and hygiene products.

From BBC

Related Words

• sanitation 

When To Use

What does hygiene mean?

Hygiene is a collection of practices to promote and preserve health, or a condition involving the use of such practices.In its most popular sense, hygiene refers to habitual actions that help you stay physically healthy, such as washing your hands and brushing your teeth. This sense of the word is especially used in phrases like personal hygiene and good hygiene. Personal hygiene is closely associated with cleanliness.Hygiene can also be applied to one’s mental well-being—mental hygiene is the practice of trying to maintain mental health through proactive behavior and treatment.The word hygiene is also used to refer to the science that deals with preserving health—both of individuals and the general public. Another word for this is hygienics.The adjective hygienic can mean related to or involving hygiene, promoting good health, or sanitary.Example: Washing your hands is the easiest way to improve your personal hygiene.