n. 1. The science that deals with the promotion and preservation of health. Also called hygienics. 2. Conditions and practices that serve to promote or preserve health: hygiene in the workplace; personal hygiene. [French hygiène and New Latin hygieina, both from Greek hugieinē (tekhnē), (art) of health, feminine of hugieinos, relating to health, healthful, from hugiēs, healthy; see aiw- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] hy·gienist (hī-jēnĭst, hījē′-, hī-jĕnĭst) n. |
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