healthful

adjective

health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl 

 also  ˈheltth-

1

: beneficial to health of body or mind

2

: healthy

he felt incapable of looking into the girl's pretty, healthful face

—Saul Bellow

healthfully adverb

healthfulness noun

Synonyms

• healthy
• good

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

Lubetzky launched Kind in 2004, aiming to create snacks that were both healthful and socially responsible. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2025

Now’s the time to enjoy them in a healthful and elegant appetizer. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 24 Aug. 2025

This healthful eating philosophy is a way of life for Meagan and Anthony Santavicca. —Pamela Brown, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2025

There aren’t lifestyle changes that can directly change thyroid function, but Praw said practicing habits that contribute to overall health like getting enough sleep, exercising, managing stress and eating a healthful diet can be helpful. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for healthful

• unhealthful

Video

Healthy vs. Healthful

Why both words are equally good for you.

Kids Definition

healthful

adjective

health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl 

1

: good for the health of the body or mind

healthful exercise

2

: healthy sense 1

healthfully

-fə-lē

adverb

healthfulness noun

Medical Definition

healthful

adjective

health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl 

: beneficial to health of body or mind

healthfully

-fə-lē 

adverb

healthfulness noun