adjective
Related Words
See healthy.
Other Word Forms
- healthfully adverb
- healthfulness noun
- quasi-healthful adjective
- quasi-healthfully adverb
Etymology
Origin of healthful
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English helthful; see health, -ful
Explanation
Things that are healthful are good for your body, mind, or overall well-being. Your dinner of barbecued potato chips, ice cream, and slices of cheddar cheese might be delicious, but it's not very healthful. Something that has a favorable effect on your health can be described with the adjective healthful. Well-balanced meals full of whole grains and vegetables are healthful. A good night's sleep and a long walk in the fresh air are both healthful, because they promote your good health. When you are full of health, however, don't use healthful to describe yourself — instead, use the closely related word healthy.
Vocabulary lists containing healthful
Power Suffix: -ful
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Commonly Confused Words, List 3
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Commonly Confused Words, List 6
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But they want us to work on improving the system to make it more healthful and sustainable and fairer to workers.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026
Here’s the dilemma: Fruits and vegetables are among the neediest of flora because they require lots of nutrients and water to produce the delicious, healthful foods we love to eat.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2025
In fact, neuroimaging studies show the brains of children who eat more processed snack foods are smaller in volume, particularly in the frontal cortices, than those of children who eat a more healthful diet.
From Salon • May 28, 2024
Whey was considered a healthful drink, a digestive aid family members drank on its own.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 30, 2024
After eating good, healthful Muslim food, we would stay at the dinner table and talk.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
