Main Entry: health·ful

Pronunciation: \ˈhelth-fəl also ˈheltth-\

Function: adjective

Date: 14th century

1 : beneficial to health of body or mind
2 : healthy <he felt incapable of looking into the girl's pretty, healthful face — Saul Bellow>

— health·ful·ly adverb

— health·ful·ness noun

synonyms 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>.