healthy

American  

[hel-thee] / ˈhɛl θi /

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.

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healthy British  

/ 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

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Related Words

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.

Other Word Forms

• healthily adverb
• healthiness noun

Etymology

Origin of healthy

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

Example Sentences

Using this approach, they examined 44 cancer cell lines and 10 healthy cell types collected from ten different tissues.

From Science Daily

"Our results suggest that pre-workout use may contribute to inadequate sleep, which is critical for healthy development, mental well-being, and academic functioning."

From Science Daily

Advice about staying healthy often centers on regular exercise and limiting fatty foods.

From Science Daily

As long as you focus on you and your son living a healthy, fulfilling life, I’m sure you will come out of this conflict a much happier person.

From MarketWatch

Over the past several years, though, I’ve been relearning a quieter question: not how to look healthy, but how to feel healthy.

From Salon

Related Words

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