English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
adj Uncommon

wholesome

HOHL-suhm

Wholesome (adj) means Good for a person's physical health, especially in relation to food. Example: “They served a wholesome breakfast of porridge and fruit.”

adj
1
Good for a person's physical health, especially in relation to food.
"They served a wholesome breakfast of porridge and fruit."
2
Morally good, decent, and positive in a simple, uplifting way.
"The film was praised for its wholesome family message."
"It was a wholesome little video of a dog reuniting with its owner."

How to use wholesome

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHealthy and good for you, or morally decent and heartwarming.

Common pairings
wholesome food wholesome fun wholesome content

Word forms

more wholesome comparative, wholesomer comparative, most wholesome superlative, wholesomest superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “wholesome” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They served a _____ breakfast of porridge and fruit.

Etymology

From an earlier form holesome, built from whole (in the old sense of "healthy") plus the suffix -some.

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for wholesome

See all rhymes for wholesome →

Frequently asked questions

What does “wholesome” mean?

The word “wholesome” means good for a person's physical health, especially in relation to food. In plain terms, healthy and good for you, or morally decent and heartwarming.

How do you pronounce “wholesome”?

“Wholesome” is pronounced HOHL-suhm (/ˈhoʊl.səm/ in IPA).

How do you use “wholesome” in a sentence?

Here is “wholesome” used in a sentence: “They served a wholesome breakfast of porridge and fruit.”

What is the opposite of “wholesome”?

The opposite of “wholesome” — its antonyms — is unwholesome.

What part of speech is “wholesome”?

“Wholesome” is an adjective.

Is “wholesome” a common word?

“Wholesome” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “wholesome” have?

“Wholesome” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: good for a person's physical health, especially in relation to food.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial