hygiene
/ˈhʌɪdʒiːn
/noun [mass noun]
Conditions or practices conducive to maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness: poor standards of food hygiene personal hygiene...
- Standards of quality and hygiene can be maintained in a much less restrictive way.
- Airedale Hospital has received a clean bill of health for its standards of food and hygiene.
- Their standards of food, service, hygiene and comfort are high and most have kids' clubs.
Synonyms
cleanliness, personal hygiene, personal cleanliness, purity, sterility, disinfection, sanitation, sanitariness;
public health, environmental health, sanitary measures
Origin
Late 16th century: via French from modern Latin hygieina, from Greek hugieinē (tekhnē) '(art) of health', from hugiēs 'healthy'.
The word hygiene goes back to Greek hugieinē (tekhnē) meaning ‘(art) of health’, from hugiēs ‘healthy’.