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.
For example, a suit in Montana targeted the state for failing to provide its residents with a healthful environment. John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2025 Allergy-Free Snacks To Pack for School Here are 15 allergy-free snacks that are healthful and free from the most common food allergens: Fresh fruit: Fresh fruit, like apples, clementines, and pears, is a safe snack for your child to bring to school. Jillian Kubala, Health, 11 Apr. 2025 Unlike sitting, sleep promotes healthful, restorative processes that help regulate blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and support heart function, says Diaz. Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 19 May 2025 However, many people find that gradual weight loss is achievable with a balanced approach—healthful eating, regular exercise, and sometimes medication. Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 14 Dec. 2024 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 5 Jun. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!