unhealthy

[ uhn-hel-thee ]
See synonyms for unhealthy on Thesaurus.com
adjective,un·health·i·er, un·health·i·est.
  1. not in a state of good or normal health; in an unsound, weak, or morbid condition.

  2. symptomatic of or resulting from bad health: an unhealthy pallor.

  1. not conducive to good health; unhealthful: Night air was formerly considered unhealthy.

  2. morally bad, harmful, or contaminating: unhealthy examples for the young.

  3. dangerous; risky: Asking questions in this neighborhood can be unhealthy.

Origin of unhealthy

1
First recorded in 1585–95; un-1 + healthy

Other words for unhealthy

Other words from unhealthy

  • un·health·i·ly, adverb
  • un·health·i·ness, noun

Words Nearby unhealthy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use unhealthy in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for unhealthy

unhealthy

/ (ʌnˈhɛlθɪ) /


adjective-healthier or -healthiest
  1. characterized by ill-health; sick; unwell

  2. characteristic of, conducive to, or resulting from ill-health: an unhealthy complexion; an unhealthy atmosphere

  1. morbid or unwholesome

  2. informal dangerous; risky

Derived forms of unhealthy

  • unhealthily, adverb
  • unhealthiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012