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

• healthily adverb
• healthiness noun

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

Readings above 400 and up to 500 are classified as "severe" and affect healthy people while also seriously impacting those with existing diseases.

Read more on BBC

Under healthy conditions, tau works like a stabilizing support beam, helping maintain the microtubules that allow nutrients and signals to move through nerve cells.

Read more on Science Daily

For example, healthy food instead of unlimited free food, and ergonomic chairs and standing desks instead of massage chairs.

Read more on Barron's

Cardi B did not share details about the child's birth, but her spokesperson told People magazine on Thursday that Cardi had a baby boy and is "healthy and happy".

Read more on BBC

The research team followed 13 healthy men over six years to observe how the body reacts to both short-term and long-term exercise.

Read more on Science Daily

Related Words

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