bill of health: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

It is extremely uncommon. The original maritime term was a simple 'bill of health' which could be 'clean' or 'foul'. In modern figurative use, the phrase is almost fossilised as 'a clean bill of health'. For a negative report, different phrases like 'damning report' or 'negative assessment' are used.

Rarely. Its original use in maritime quarantine is largely historical. Contemporary literal use is mostly restricted to historical or ceremonial contexts. The vast majority of usage is figurative.

Historically, a 'bill of health' was the document, which could be clean (healthy) or foul (infected). In modern English, 'bill of health' alone feels incomplete and is seldom used. 'Clean bill of health' is the fixed, idiomatic phrase meaning a declaration that all is well.

It originated as an official/public health term. While it can be used in medical contexts (e.g., 'The patient got a clean bill of health'), it is now a general-purpose idiom applied to systems, organizations, machinery, finances, etc., to indicate a positive inspection outcome.

An official certificate stating that a ship's crew and passengers are free from infectious diseases, required when entering a port.

Bill of health is usually formal, official, and business contexts. the figurative use is common in journalism and everyday speech. in register.

Bill of health: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbɪl əv ˈhelθ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbɪl əv ˈhelθ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.