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

• good
• healthy
• medicinal
• restorative
• salubrious
• salutary
• salutiferous
• sanative
• tonic
• wholesome

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

Guests are greeted with lavender-scented towels and healthful smoothies and snacks, and the spa taps into the hotel’s surroundings with an oceanfront terrace for utter relaxation. —Miami Herald, 18 June 2024

Martha Page, chair of the Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy, said the loss of the Stop & Shop would be a critical setback to increasing access to healthful food in a city that long struggled with food insecurity. —Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 16 June 2024

The Department of Agriculture defines urban food deserts as low-income neighborhoods where at least 500 people, or 33% of the population, live more than a mile from a grocery store or other sources of fresh, healthful food. —Luke Fountain, Charlotte Observer, 13 June 2024

Flower Child This Fox Restaurant Concepts brand focuses on healthful ingredients and this is a fast-casual operation was designed for flexible schedules with an upscale farmers market vibe. —Georgann Yara, The Arizona Republic, 11 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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