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

In this healthful salad, Brussels sprouts are combined with apples, pears, pomegranate seeds, shallots and Dijon-vinegar dressing. —Bethany Thayer, Freep.com, 27 Sep. 2025

Our restaurants, markets and dinner tables are bare of delicious and healthful California salmon. —Scott Artis, Mercury News, 23 Sep. 2025

Research finds that eating mostly healthful, nutritious foods also helps. —Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 17 Sep. 2025

Existing programs distribute custom produce boxes from local growers, working with nutrition specialists to teach people how to use the food in a healthful diet. —Clara Migoya, AZCentral.com, 11 Sep. 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