healthful

adjective

health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl How to pronounce healthful (audio)
 also  ˈheltth-
1
: beneficial to health of body or mind
2
: healthy
he felt incapable of looking into the girl's pretty, healthful faceSaul Bellow
healthfully adverb
healthfulness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for healthful

healthful, wholesome, salubrious, salutary mean favorable to the health of mind or body.

healthful implies a positive contribution to a healthy condition.

a healthful diet

wholesome applies to what benefits, builds up, or sustains physically, mentally, or spiritually.

wholesome foods
the movie is wholesome family entertainment

salubrious applies chiefly to the helpful effects of climate or air.

cool and salubrious weather

salutary describes something corrective or beneficially effective, even though it may in itself be unpleasant.

a salutary warning that resulted in increased production

Examples of healthful in a Sentence

The meal was both healthful and satisfying. one of the most healthful forms of exercise is a brisk walk
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Pumpkin Seeds Pumpkin seeds are rich in MUFAs, PUFAs, and healthful compounds like cholesterol-lowering phytosterols and carotenoids, which support your skin and eyes.19 These seeds are a notable source of oleic acid, a healthy fat known for its anti-inflammatory effects. Lauren O'Connor, Ms, Health, 22 Jan. 2025 Otherwise the right to a clean and healthful environment is meaningless. Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024 This gluten-free grain offers protein, healthful fats and carbs to support good health and give you lasting energy. Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 7 Dec. 2024 All that said, tempering the role of UPFs in your life and choosing either unprocessed or less-processed foods when possible can still orient your diet in a more healthful direction overall. Erica Sloan, SELF, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for healthful

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of healthful was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Healthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/healthful. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

healthful

adjective
health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl How to pronounce healthful (audio)
1
: good for the health of the body or mind
healthful exercise
2
healthfully
-fə-lē
adverb
healthfulness noun

Medical Definition

healthful

adjective
health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl How to pronounce healthful (audio)
: beneficial to health of body or mind
healthfully adverb
healthfulness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on healthful

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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