poor health

USAGE SUMMARY

"poor health" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone's physical condition when they are not feeling well. For example, "My grandmother has been dealing with poor health for a few months now."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Poor health.

The New Yorker

Poor health Reprints.

The Economist

Some were in poor health.

The New York Times

Maybe it's poor health.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

People in poor health.

MIT Technology Review

Poor health ReprintsThis will not be easy.

The Economist

The survivors remained in severely poor health.

The New York Times

Poor health is always an undercurrent.

The New York Times

Inman suffered from poor health.

The Guardian

It is poor health policy.

The Guardian

But he suffered from poor health.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's health, consider the specific context and choose alternatives to "poor health" that provide more detail or nuance, such as "failing health" or "chronic illness".

Common error

Avoid using "poor health" as a vague descriptor. Instead, specify the actual health issue or condition when possible to provide a clearer and more informative picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "poor health" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "poor" modifies the noun "health". As Ludwig AI confirms, this construction is grammatically sound and suitable for describing someone's condition. It typically acts as a subject or object in a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Reference

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "poor health" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to describe a negative state of well-being. As Ludwig AI notes, its usage is versatile and suitable for various contexts, but it often benefits from further specification. While very frequent in news and media, its more formal alternatives should be considered for scientific writing. The phrase functions primarily as a noun phrase, aiming to report or describe someone's condition, and remains relatively neutral in register. Consider utilizing more descriptive terms when possible to avoid vagueness and enhance clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failing health

This alternative emphasizes the declining state of someone's health.

ill health

A slightly more formal way of saying "poor health".

delicate health

Implies a fragile or vulnerable state of health.

declining condition

Focuses on the worsening state of someone's overall condition, including health.

frail condition

Highlights the weakness and fragility associated with health problems.

ailing

A single-word adjective to describe someone experiencing "poor health".

unhealthy state

A more general term for a condition lacking in health.

debilitated state

Highlights the weakening effect of health issues.

chronic illness

Refers to a long-lasting or persistent health problem.

precarious state of health

Emphasizes the instability and risk associated with someone's health.

FAQs

How can I use "poor health" in a sentence?

You can use "poor health" to describe someone's general condition, such as "Her retirement was due to her "poor health"" or "The patient's "poor health" made travel difficult".

What are some synonyms for "poor health"?

Alternatives to "poor health" include "ill health", "failing health", or "declining health", each conveying slightly different nuances.

Is it more appropriate to say "in poor health" or "with poor health"?

"In "poor health"" is the more common and grammatically correct phrase. You would say someone is "in "poor health"", not "with "poor health"".

What's the difference between "poor health" and "bad health"?

While both phrases are understandable, ""poor health"" is the more standard and frequently used expression. "Bad health" is less common and might sound slightly less formal.