healthy

[ hel-thee ]

adjective

healthier, healthiest.

1. possessing or enjoying good health or a sound and vigorous mentality:

   a healthy body;

   a healthy mind.

   Synonyms: robust, hearty, hale

   Antonyms: sick

2. pertaining to or characteristic of good health or a sound and vigorous mind:

   a healthy appearance;

   healthy attitudes.

3. conducive to good health; healthful:

   healthy recreations.

   Synonyms: nourishing, nutritious

4. eligible for the Food and Drug Administration's label certifying that a food is suitable for helping consumers achieve a total diet that conforms to dietary recommendations.
5. prosperous or sound:

   a healthy business.

6. Informal. fairly large:

   I bought a healthy number of books.

healthy

/ ˈhɛlθɪ /

adjective

1. enjoying good health
2. functioning well or being sound

   the company's finances are not very healthy

3. conducive to health; salutary
4. indicating soundness of body or mind

   a healthy appetite

5. informal.
   considerable in size or amount

   a healthy sum

Derived Forms

• ˈhealthiness, noun
• ˈhealthily, adverb

Other Word Forms

• health·i·ly adverb
• health·i·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of healthy¹

First recorded in 1545–55; health + -y ¹

Synonym Study

Healthy, healthful, salubrious, salutary, wholesome refer to the promotion of health. Healthy, while applied especially to what possesses health, is also applicable to what is conducive to health: a healthy climate; not a healthy place to be. Healthful and salubrious are applied chiefly to what is conducive to health: healthful diet or exercise; a salubrious impact on mental outlook. Salutary suggests something that is conducive to well-being generally, as well as beneficial in preserving or in restoring health: salutary effects; to take salutary measures. It is used also to indicate moral benefit: to have a salutary fear of devious behavior. Wholesome has connotations of attractive freshness and purity; it applies to what is good for one, physically, morally, or both: wholesome food; wholesome influences or advice.

Example Sentences

Most importantly, it’ll keep you in a healthier headspace to make wise financial choices under challenging circumstances.

From Salon

"I try to keep a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude and I'm doing just fine."

From BBC

He called for a reform of the system so that it "prioritises public health and value for customer money and delivers healthy coastlines, rivers and lakes."

From BBC

“I’m happy that I have a great organization behind me to allow me to get healthy and know exactly what I need to do,” Leonard said.

From Los Angeles Times

"I got ill on the day you are most healthy," says Peaty, who also won relay gold in Tokyo in 2021.

From BBC

Related Words

• active
• athletic
• fresh
• healthful
• hearty
• lively
• normal
• robust
• strong
• tough
• vigorous