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

Other Word Forms

• healthiness noun
• healthily adverb

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

In the case of the flu test, for example, a negative test would not imply that the person is healthy, but rather that they are less likely to have the flu.

Read more on Science Daily

Shortages of hard disk drives, a key sales line for Western Digital and Seagate in particular, are “expected to further drive a healthier supply/demand environment,” Merchant added.

Read more on Barron's

Backed by research, endorsed by doctors, tracked by apps, the basics of healthy living have become part of a canon.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Currently, the average U.S. household remains financially healthy, analysts said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Banks have had some exposure to a couple of bankruptcies in recent weeks, such as privately held auto-parts supplier First Brands Group, LLC, but overall credit quality is expected to remain healthy.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

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