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Morbidity: meaning, definitions and examples

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morbidity

 

[ mɔːrˈbɪdəti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

health statistics

Morbidity refers to the condition of being diseased or unhealthy, often measured by the incidence or prevalence of a disease in a certain population. It is an important concept in public health that provides insight into the health status of a population, indicating the burden of health conditions beyond mortality. Morbidity can encompass both physical and mental health issues, and it helps to understand the quality of life and overall well-being. Additionally, morbidity rates can be used to assess the effectiveness of healthcare systems and interventions.

Synonyms

disease, disorder, illness, sickness

Examples of usage

  • The morbidity rate of diabetes is increasing in urban areas.
  • Public health officials track morbidity to identify areas needing intervention.
  • Mental health morbidity is often overlooked in many studies.
  • Statistics show the morbidity associated with tobacco use.

Translations

Translations of the word "morbidity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 morbidade

🇮🇳 बीमारी

🇩🇪 Morbidität

🇮🇩 morbiditas

🇺🇦 моральність

🇵🇱 morbidity

🇯🇵 罹患率

🇫🇷 morbidité

🇪🇸 mortalidad

🇹🇷 hastalığın sıklığı

🇰🇷 질병률

🇸🇦 معدل المرض

🇨🇿 morbidity

🇸🇰 chorobnosť

🇨🇳 发病率

🇸🇮 morbidity

🇮🇸 sjúkdómshyggð

🇰🇿 аурушаңдық

🇬🇪 ავადმყოფობის მაჩვენებელი

🇦🇿 xəstəlik dərəcəsi

🇲🇽 morbilidad

Etymology

The term 'morbidity' originates from the Latin word 'morbidus', meaning 'sick, diseased'. The roots trace back to 'mors', which translates to 'death'. The use of 'morbidity' in medical and public health contexts dates back to the 19th century, when health officials and statisticians began to focus more keenly on the prevalence of diseases and health conditions amongst populations. Over time, morbidity has come to encompass a variety of health issues beyond merely the presence of disease, including the quality of life and the functional status of individuals affected by health conditions. The distinction between morbidity and mortality has become critical in the fields of epidemiology and health research, as it allows for a better understanding of the overall health landscape of a community or country.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #11,359, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.