wholesome
/ˈhoʊl.səm/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: wholesomer · wholesomest
Sense 1
Meaning · English
Promoting good physical health and well-being.
Adjective
Examples
I prethee go, and get me ſome repaſt,
I care not what, ſo it be holſome foode.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
Promoting moral and mental well-being.
Adjective
Examples
Though hard, my friends, yet wholesome are the truths, taught in affliction's school, whence the pure soul rises refined, and soars above the world.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “wholesome” mean?
Promoting good physical health and well-being.
Is “wholesome” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.