unhealthy

adjective

un·​healthy ˌən-ˈhel-thē 

unhealthier; unhealthiest

1

: not conducive to health : not healthful

an unhealthy climate

unhealthy habits

unhealthy foods

2

: not in good health : sickly, diseased

unhealthy animals

3

a

: risky, unsound

an unhealthy economy

b

: of a harmful nature : bad, injurious

unhealthy eating habits

unhealthy levels of lead

c

: involving or causing feelings or thoughts that are not normal and healthy

an unhealthy relationship

has an unhealthy interest in natural disasters

unhealthily

ˌən-ˈhel-thə-lē 

adverb

unhealthiness

ˌən-ˈhel-thē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of unhealthy

• poisonous
• toxic
• unhealthful
• unwholesome
• sickly
• noxious

Examples of unhealthy in a Sentence

Her skin looks blotchy and unhealthy.

Tests revealed an unhealthy level of lead in the water.

Eating honey can be unhealthy for babies.

He was stuck in an unhealthy relationship.

She has an unhealthy interest in natural disasters.

Recent Examples on the Web

Founder Peter Arvad told New Atlas that this was considered, but the team ultimately decided that scoring and gamifying sleep risked an unhealthy relationship with something meant to feel natural, opting to gently nudge better habits instead. — New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026

Cleanup Challenges Cleaning up after your home has been inundated with smoke from wildfires is unpleasant, difficult and potentially unhealthy. — Jamie Gold, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Not talking about the consequences of life-threatening weight loss could unintentionally send a message that unhealthy levels of thinness is an ideal body type to aspire to. — Miranda Roberts, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

But in the early 1970s, Hollywood was embracing sequels out of desperation in the midst of what was an extremely unhealthy distribution business. — Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unhealthy

• healthy
• stealthy
• wealthy

Kids Definition

unhealthy

adjective

un·​healthy ˌən-ˈhel-thē 

1

: not conducive to good health : not healthful

an unhealthy climate

2

: not in good health : sickly, diseased

3

a

: risky, unsound

an unhealthy economy

b

: injurious, bad

unhealthily

-thə-lē 

adverb

unhealthiness

-thē-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

unhealthy

adjective

un·​healthy -ˈhel-thē 

unhealthier; unhealthiest

1

: not conducive to health

an unhealthy climate

2

: not in good health : sickly

unhealthiness noun