Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

health-scare

noun

/hɛlθ skɛr/

Definition

A health-scare refers to a situation or event that causes public concern or fear regarding a health issue, often related to the potential outbreak of a disease, the effects of a new medical treatment, or the risks associated with certain lifestyle choices.

Examples

The recent health-scare about the flu virus led to increased vaccinations in the community.
Many people experienced anxiety during the health-scare regarding the effects of a new diet pill.
The media played a significant role in spreading information during the health-scare surrounding the contagious disease.

Meaning

The term ‘health-scare’ combines ‘health,’ indicating issues related to well-being, and ‘scare,’ which highlights the anxiety or panic that may arise from perceived threats to health.