healthy
healthy
Pronunciation
Hel-: /hɛl/
/h/ - voiceless glottal fricative
/ɛ/ - open-mid front unrounded vowel
/l/ - alveolar lateral approximant
-thy: /θi/
/θ/ - voiceless dental fricative
/i/ - close front unrounded vowel
Word Form Variations
Adjective: healthy (comparative: healthier, superlative: healthiest)
Adverb: healthily
Noun: health (no plural for the general concept, but can be pluralized when referring to different types or states of health, e.g., "public healths")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Definition 1: In a good state of physical or mental well-being; not suffering from illness or disease.
Synonyms: well, sound, fit, robust, strong, thriving, hale
Antonyms: sick, ill, unwell, infirm, diseased, unhealthy, weak
Definition 2: Conducive to or promoting good health; beneficial for one's well-being.
Synonyms: wholesome, nutritious, salubrious, beneficial, good, health-giving
Antonyms: unhealthy, harmful, detrimental, unwholesome, damaging, noxious
Definition 3: Indicating or characterized by vigor, prosperity, or a sound condition; flourishing. (Often used metaphorically for non-living things or abstract concepts.)
Synonyms: robust, vigorous, strong, thriving, flourishing, sound, substantial
Antonyms: ailing, weak, struggling, unhealthy, deteriorating, unsound, dwindling
Examples of Use
Books:
"Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is crucial for preventing chronic diseases, as discussed in numerous medical journals and textbooks." (Adapted from common medical literature themes)
"She found herself drawn to the quaint cottage, its garden bursting with healthy roses and vibrant wildflowers." (Descriptive language common in fiction)
Newspapers:
"The latest economic report indicates a healthy growth in the technology sector, defying earlier predictions of a slowdown." ( The Financial Times)
"Experts recommend a healthy balance of work and leisure to combat stress in today's fast-paced society." ( The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables is one of the best ways to boost your immune system." ( Healthline.com)
"Our guide to achieving a healthy work-life balance offers practical tips for professionals struggling with burnout." ( Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (Dialogue): "You look so healthy! Have you been working out?" (Casual conversation in a drama or sitcom, e.g., Friends)
Documentary (Narration): "For the gorillas to thrive, a healthy rainforest ecosystem is absolutely essential, providing both food and shelter." (Nature documentary, e.g., Planet Earth)
Podcast (Discussion): "In today's episode, we delve into how to cultivate a healthy mindset amidst life's challenges." (Self-improvement or wellness podcast)
Social Media (Caption): "Weekend hike views! So grateful for this healthy escape into nature. #OptOutside #HealthyLiving" (Instagram post)
Video Game (In-game text/dialogue): "Your character's healthy score has increased, allowing for faster regeneration." (RPG or simulation game, e.g., The Sims or an adventure game's stats screen)
General Public Discourse:
Conversation: "I'm trying to make more healthy choices when I go grocery shopping these week." (Everyday conversation)
Public Service Announcement: "Remember to get enough sleep for a healthy body and mind." (Radio or TV PSA)
Parental Advice: "Make sure you eat your vegetables; they're healthy for you!" (Common advice given by parents)
10 Famous Quotes Using Healthy
"A healthy mind in a healthy body." (Often attributed to Juvenal, Satire X)
"The first wealth is health." (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Conduct of Life)
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." (Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard's Almanack)
"Happiness is the highest form of health." (Dalai Lama XIV, common attribution)
"A healthy attitude is contagious but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier." (Tom Stoppard, common attribution)
"To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." (Buddha, common attribution)
"Laughter is the best medicine for a healthy mind and body." (Proverbial saying)
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." (Jiddu Krishnamurti, BrainyQuote)
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step towards a healthy lifestyle." (Lao Tzu, adapted from "The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step")
"A healthy democracy requires a marketplace of ideas, where diverse perspectives can flourish." (Ruth Bader Ginsburg, common sentiment)
Etymology
The word "healthy" has a really old and interesting history! It comes from the older word "health," which goes way back to Old English (that's the language spoken in England before the Norman Conquest in 1066).
The Old English word was "hælþ," and it meant "wholeness" or "a being whole, sound, or well." Think of it as a complete state, not just about physical well-being, but also a sense of being intact and unharmed.
This "hælþ" itself came from an even older root in Proto-Germanic (*hailitho) and then back to Proto-Indo-European (*kailo-), which meant "whole, uninjured, or of good omen." This ancient root also gave us words like "whole," "hale" (as in "hale and hearty"), and even "holy" and "heal." So, you can see a strong connection between being complete, uninjured, and even sacred.
The adjective "healthy" (meaning "being in a sound state" or "conducive to health") started being used a bit later, around the 1550s. Before that, a similar word "healthsome" was used in the 1530s.
So, when we say someone is "healthy" today, we're echoing a very ancient idea of being complete, sound, and in a good, whole state, not just free from sickness.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Healthy
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "healthy":
Healthy as a horse: Very healthy and robust.
A healthy respect for (something/someone): A strong, sensible appreciation or caution regarding something or someone.
Healthy appetite: A strong desire to eat.
In rude health: In very good health, often surprisingly so. (Here, "rude" means robust or vigorous, not impolite.)
Healthy glow: A radiant and vibrant appearance, often on the skin, indicating good health.
Healthy bank account: A substantial amount of money in one's bank account.
Healthy competition: Competition that is beneficial and stimulating, leading to improvement.
Healthy skepticism: A sensible and cautious questioning attitude, not easily convinced.
A healthy dose of (something): A significant or ample amount of something, often used for something abstract like humor or reality.
To have a healthy outlook: To maintain a positive and optimistic perspective on life.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of healthy from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
