healthy

[ hel-thee ]

adjective

, health·i·er, health·i·est.

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 Words From

• 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

The vitamin folate, also known as vitamin B9, is found in everyday foods such as beans and some green vegetables, meaning most people receive a sufficient dose from eating a regular, healthy diet.

From BBC

He has a monkish buzz cut, a mustache and a healthy stubble.

From Salon

The U.S. economy grew at a healthy 2.8% annualized rate in the third quarter, driven by robust consumer spending, which expanded at a 3.7% pace.

From Salon

About 70,000 fans are expected on Friday in a fight which will be streamed live on Netflix, and a healthy crowd of more than 1,000 – mostly Tyson fans - attended the news conference.

From BBC

Led by Jaren Jackson Jr., the one member of the Grizzlies’ big three that was healthy, Memphis outscored the Lakers 70-53 in the second and third quarters as the Lakers did little but half-heartedly swipe at the ball and commit lazy fouls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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