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 levels of lead

c

: morally contaminated : corrupt, unwholesome

an unhealthy imagination

unhealthily

ˌən-ˈhel-thə-lē 

adverb

unhealthiness

ˌən-ˈhel-thē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• insalubrious
• noisome
• noxious
• sickly
• unhealthful
• unwholesome

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

There's an air quality alert in place for most of southeast Michigan — the pollution is expected to be unhealthy for sensitive groups. —Diamy Wang, Detroit Free Press, 13 July 2024

This does not mean fruits that are higher in sugar per serving are unhealthy. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 11 July 2024

Air quality in far inland areas of the East Bay and in the Santa Clara Valley was expected to be unhealthy for the very young and elderly, as well as for those with heart, respiratory or other conditions. —Rick Hurd, The Mercury News, 10 July 2024

Threat level: Breathing in unhealthy PM2.5 levels can increase a person's risk of heart disease, asthma, and low birth weight among pregnant people. —Kim Bojórquez, Axios, 10 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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