unhealthy

[ uhn-hel-thee ]

adjective

, un·health·i·er, un·health·i·est.

1. not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.

   Synonyms: sickly

2. symptomatic of or resulting from bad health:

   an unhealthy pallor.

3. not conducive to good health; unhealthful:

   Night air was formerly considered unhealthy.

   Synonyms: unhygienic, deleterious

4. morally bad, harmful, or contaminating:

   unhealthy examples for the young.

5. dangerous; risky:

   Asking questions in this neighborhood can be unhealthy.

unhealthy

/ ʌnˈhɛlθɪ /

adjective

1. characterized by ill-health; sick; unwell
2. characteristic of, conducive to, or resulting from ill-health

   an unhealthy complexion

   an unhealthy atmosphere

3. morbid or unwholesome
4. informal.
   dangerous; risky

Derived Forms

• unˈhealthiness, noun
• unˈhealthily, adverb

Other Words From

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of unhealthy¹

First recorded in 1585–95; un- ¹ + healthy

Example Sentences

Air pollution is expected to decrease in the coming days, but will remain at unhealthy levels.

From BBC

"She was really thin and emaciated, but she wasn't unhealthy - she was just hungry," he says.

From BBC

Later, Ruth Millward, a patient safety manager, told the inquiry that there was an unhealthy culture in the NHS to copy people into emails so people can say they have passed on information.

From BBC

Plus, a potential abuser would fight grounds of domestic violence in court much harder to avoid the stigma, which could keep victims of domestic abuse in unsafe, unhealthy relationships.

From Salon

What in the aggregate would have been a way of following the story, keeping abreast of events, doing my part as a well-informed citizen tipped over into addictive, unhealthy behavior.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• corrupt
• corrupting
• dangerous
• degrading
• detrimental
• harmful
• hazardous
• negative
• noxious
• perilous
• perverse
• poisonous
• risky
• undesirable
• unsanitary
• unsound