noun

well-being

wel-BEE-ing

Well-being (noun) means the state of being comfortable, healthy and content in body and mind. Example: “Regular exercise improves both physical and mental well-being.”

noun

The state of being comfortable, healthy and content in body and mind.

"Regular exercise improves both physical and mental well-being."

"The policy is designed to protect the well-being of staff."

In economics and policy, a broad measure of how good people's lives are, taking in income, health, security and satisfaction rather than output alone.

"The country now publishes national well-being statistics alongside GDP."

How to Use Well-being

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBeing healthy, comfortable and happy.

When to use it

Neutral; heavily used in health, HR and policy writing.

Memory tip

It is an uncountable noun — there is no plural, so avoid 'well-beings'.

Easily confused with

wellness → welfare → happiness →

Common pairings

mental well-being physical well-being sense of well-being health and well-being

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Regular exercise improves both physical and mental _____.

Synonyms

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welfare health wellness contentment quality of life life satisfaction

Antonyms

ill health distress suffering

Related Words

man health pain disease condition trouble danger pleasure

Rhymes for well-being

being seeing ageing dyeing Boeing fleeing freeing agreeing canoeing disagreeing sightseeing

See all rhymes for well-being →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it well-being, wellbeing or well being?

All three appear in print. Well-being with a hyphen is the safest choice and dominates American style guides; wellbeing as one word is now very common in British and Australian writing. Two separate words is generally treated as an error.

What is the difference between well-being and wellness?

Well-being describes the state of being well — how good your life actually is. Wellness usually refers to the active pursuit of health through diet, exercise and self-care, and carries commercial associations with the wellness industry. Well-being is broader and includes things you do not control, such as income and relationships.

What are the main types of well-being?

Most frameworks divide it into physical, mental or emotional, social, and financial well-being, with some adding a sense of purpose. They are treated separately because a person can be thriving in one and struggling in another.

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