healthy
gb/hˈɛlθi/ us/hˈɛlθi/
A1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A1
state
1
In good physical health
Feeling well and not sick.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is healthy
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'healthy' with 'healthful'. 'Healthy' describes a person or thing in good health, while 'healthful' describes something that promotes health, though in modern usage 'healthy' is often used for both.
Synonyms
fit (Implies good physical condition, often from exercise.)
|
well (More general; can refer to both physical and mental condition.)
Antonyms
ill (General opposite, meaning sick or unwell.)
|
unhealthy (Direct opposite, often implying poor health or harmful condition.)
Collocations
healthy lifestyle
|healthy diet
|healthy body
|healthy weight
|healthy habits
Themes
health
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She has always been a healthy person.
- After the surgery, he quickly became healthy again.
- Regular exercise helps you stay healthy.
- The doctor said I’m perfectly healthy.
- Healthy children need plenty of sleep.
Learner examples
- I am healthy now.
- He is a healthy man.
- She feels healthy today.
- The baby is healthy.
- We want to be healthy.
adjective
A1
property
2
Promoting good health
Good for your body and health.
Usage pattern:
[something] is healthy
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'healthy' (promoting health) with 'tasty', thinking they are always related, which is not necessarily true.
Synonyms
nutritious (Emphasizes the presence of necessary nutrients.)
|
wholesome (Suggests moral or physical well-being benefits.)
Antonyms
junk food (Food that is unhealthy because it has little nutritional value.)
|
unhealthy (Direct opposite; harmful to health.)
Collocations
healthy food
|healthy meal
|healthy snack
|healthy choice
Themes
health
|food
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Eating vegetables is a healthy habit.
- This salad is both healthy and delicious.
- Doctors recommend a healthy breakfast every day.
- Choose a healthy snack instead of chips.
- Swimming is a healthy form of exercise.
Learner examples
- Vegetables are healthy.
- Water is healthy to drink.
- This soup is healthy.
- Walking is healthy for you.
- Fruit is a healthy snack.
adjective
B1
property
3
Functioning well (non-physical)
Working well or strong in a way that is good for the future.
Usage pattern:
[something] is healthy
Common mistake:
Learners may interpret 'healthy' only in physical terms and miss its figurative use for systems or relationships.
Synonyms
strong (Indicates robust performance or condition.)
|
sound (Suggests being stable and reliable.)
Antonyms
weak (Lacking strength or stability.)
|
unstable (Not steady or reliable.)
Collocations
healthy economy
|healthy relationship
|healthy debate
Themes
business
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The country's economy remains healthy despite the crisis.
- They have a healthy marriage built on trust.
- A healthy debate can lead to better decisions.
- The company shows healthy growth this year.
- Team members should maintain healthy communication.
Learner examples
- The business is healthy now.
- We have a healthy friendship.
- The economy is healthy this year.
- Our team has healthy communication.
- It was a healthy discussion.
adjective
informal
B2
property
4
Large in amount or degree
Big in size or number.
Usage pattern:
a healthy [amount/number/profit] of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this figurative use with physical health meanings and misinterpret sentences like 'a healthy profit'.
Synonyms
substantial (Formal; emphasizes large size or importance.)
|
generous (Positive connotation when referring to amounts or portions.)
Antonyms
small (Opposite in size or amount.)
|
meager (Small and inadequate.)
Collocations
healthy profit
|healthy appetite
Themes
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- He made a healthy profit from the sale.
- She has a healthy appetite after the long hike.
- The charity received a healthy donation.
- They enjoyed a healthy portion of dessert.
- We had a healthy turnout at the event.
Learner examples
- I ate a healthy piece of cake.
- He has a healthy bank account now.
- They made a healthy profit this year.
- She has a healthy appetite.
- We saw a healthy number of people at the park.
Grammar
Dictionary form
healthy
IPA
GB/hˈɛlθi/
US/hˈɛlθi/
Syllables & stress
healthy (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (healthy)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: healthy
- Comparative: healthier
- Superlative: healthiest
Word family
Expressions
healthy competition
1/hˈɛlθi kˌɑmpətˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Beneficial form of rivalry or contest
Competition that makes people better without being mean or unfair.
Examples
- Healthy competition between teams can improve performance.
- The teacher encourages healthy competition among students.
healthy diet
1/hˈɛlθi dˈaɪət/
fixed phrase
Diet promoting good health
Eating food that is good for your body.
Examples
- A healthy diet includes fruits and vegetables every day.
- She follows a healthy diet to keep her energy up.
healthy growth
1/hˈɛlθi ɡɹˈoʊθ/
fixed phrase
Beneficial steady increase or development
Growth that is good and not too fast or too slow.
Examples
- The company reported healthy growth in sales this quarter.
- Healthy growth in children depends on good nutrition.
healthy relationship
1/hˈɛlθi ɹilˈeɪʃənʃˌɪp/
fixed phrase
Good, supportive relationship
A relationship where people care for and respect each other.
Examples
- Trust and communication are key to a healthy relationship.
- They have maintained a healthy relationship for many years.
healthy lifestyle
1/hˈɛlθi lˈaɪfstˌaɪl/
fixed phrase
Way of living for good health
A way of living that helps you stay well and strong.
Examples
- Regular exercise and balanced meals are part of a healthy lifestyle.
- Eating vegetables and exercising are important parts of a healthy lifestyle.
- He changed his habits to live a healthier lifestyle.
- She decided to adopt a healthy lifestyle after her illness.