wholesome

American  

[hohl-suhm] / ˈhoʊl səm /

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.

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wholesome British  

/ 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

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Related Words

See healthy.

Other Word Forms

• wholesomely adverb
• wholesomeness noun

Etymology

Origin of wholesome

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

Example Sentences

The statement adds, “Costco has prioritized keeping its chickens at $4.99 over ensuring those chickens are safe to eat, all while holding out its poultry to consumers as top-quality and wholesome.”

From Salon

On the one hand, it’s a “relatively harmless, wholesome form of entertainment.”

From The Wall Street Journal

There is no modest, wholesome attempt at going out on his own to make a life beyond what marital destiny provided.

From Salon

After father-daughter duo Fyütch and Aura V clinched their win for best children’s music album with the exceedingly wholesome “Harmony,” the two took their matching purple outfits for a spin in the Grammys press room.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's just really disheartening because it's such a delightful hobby and it's so wholesome and then moments like that really break your heart," Wosley said.

From BBC

Related Words

• healthful
• hygienic
• pure