wholesome

[hohl-suhm]

adjective

1. conducive to moral or general well-being; salutary; beneficial.

   wholesome recreation;

   wholesome environment.

   Synonyms: good, helpful

2. conducive to bodily health; healthful; salubrious.

   wholesome food;

   wholesome air;

   wholesome exercise.

   Synonyms: nutritious, nourishing

3. suggestive of physical or moral health, especially in appearance.

4. healthy or sound.

wholesome

/ ˈhəʊlsəm /

adjective

1. conducive to health or physical wellbeing

2. conducive to moral wellbeing

3. characteristic or suggestive of health or wellbeing, esp in appearance

Other Word Forms

• wholesomely adverb
• wholesomeness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wholesome¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English ho(o)lsom; equivalent to whole + -some ¹; cognate with Old High German heilsam, Old Norse heilsamr

Word History and Origins

Origin of wholesome¹

C12: from _whole (healthy) + _-some ¹ ; related to German heilsam healing

Synonym Study

See healthy.

Example Sentences

Autumn frowns and says, “I don’t trust it. There hasn’t been one wholesome thing in this forest … and then suddenly there’s a beautiful forest with all this life? It doesn’t make sense.”

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In the series of wholesome photos of Carlos in his dad’s arm, wearing sunglasses and resting, the pitcher included a video of when he first met his future K9 in August.

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“And she’s such a good wholesome person to have your kids look up to. She’s done really well and I’m super proud of her.”

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Even in the most wholesome times in his life, as a little league baseball player and school theater kid, he would get a similar “butterfly in the stomach feeling” from the performance of it all.

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“Thankfully, I did not have to face this initiation. However, that family trait for preparing delicious, wholesome meals runs deep in my veins.”

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Related Words

• healthful 
• hygienic 
• pure