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health risk

health risk

27 3.3
Something that can make you ill or harm your body
  • noun
  • /hɛlθ rɪsk/
translation icon : riesgo para la salud
  • Lower economic and educational levels can increase health risks for children in several ways.
  • health risk behaviors
  • pose health risks
  • public health risks

And this isn't the only health risk on Christmas.

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Examples

  • Binge drinking may carry health risks even in those whose weekly consumption is within sensible limits.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Unsafe water seriously increases health risks, even though people may have no choice but to consume it.

  • It's a potential health risk.

  • But, you know, these health risks are there forever.

    ZOE
  • You exposed these kids to a potential health risk by getting in that pool.

  • Lead poisoning has been recognized as a major public health risk, particularly in developing countries.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Many steps can and should be taken to reduce the health risks of long term or habitual computer use.

  • Here are some of the health risks of a vegan diet.

  • The researchers predict that health risks will continue to rise as hot and dry conditions that fuel wildfires will continue to worsen with climate change.

  • Many steps can and should be taken to reduce the health risk of long term or habitual computer use.

Synonyms

risk
vshealth risk
1.9

A chance that something bad may happen

is about a factor or situation capable of causing harm rather than just chance
danger
vshealth risk
1.0

A chance that people or things will be harmed

is a factor or circumstance that can potentially cause harm to people
hazard
vshealth risk
154 3.4

Something that can cause harm or danger

is focused on factors or situations that can harm individuals' well being
health hazard
vshealth risk
15 2.8

A thing that can make people sick

is a factor or situation that can potentially cause harm to a person
safety concern
vshealth risk
15 3.1

A matter that may cause harm to people's health or safety

is a specific factor or situation that can cause harm not a general issue
serious danger
vshealth risk
12 2.8

A strong chance that people or property will be harmed

is a factor or situation that can cause harm but with unknown severity

Antonyms

1.0

A place or condition that protects you from danger

A positive effect on someone's body or mind

How Direct

root cause
  • Specialized
35 3.6
etiology
  • Specialized
3 8.8
causal factor
  • Specialized
1 4.5
health risk
27 3.3
confounder
  • Specialized
2 8.6

Surface Forms

health risk singular
health risks plural

Morphology

health + risk

The meaning is directly compositional: 'health' (state of well-being) + 'risk' (possibility of harm) yields a risk to one's health. This noun-noun combination and the ‘X risk’ pattern are cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Health risk comes from putting health and risk together: imagine something hidden, like unhealthy food or dirty air, that can slowly 'cause harm' to your body. So a health risk is a factor or situation that can make you sick or damage your health.