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 notesIn plain EnglishHealthy and good for you, or morally decent and heartwarming.
Common pairings
wholesome food
wholesome fun
wholesome content
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more wholesome, wholesomer
- Superlative
- most wholesome, wholesomest
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.
Synonyms
View more →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.
