healthful

adjective

health·​ful ˈhelth-fəl How to pronounce healthful (audio)
also ˈheltth-
Synonyms of healthfulnext
1
: beneficial to health of body or mind
healthful living
2
: healthy
He felt incapable of looking into the girl's pretty, healthful face.Saul 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.
There are healthful ways to incorporate any of them. Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026 Packed with fiber and two types of chocolate, these rich, fudgy brownies are a wholesome, healthful chocolate-lover’s dream. Virginia Willis, AJC.com, 8 Feb. 2026 But those and other game-day foods aren’t the most healthful. Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026 Founded by three young entrepreneurs, Nude Miami hopes to tap into the area’s growing desire for healthful, natural foods with unique offerings and a community-centric vibe. Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026 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 16 Feb. 2026.

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

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