adj
unhealthy
uhn-HEHL-thee
adj
1
Harmful to health, or lacking good health.
"A diet high in sugar is unhealthy."
"The patient looked pale and unhealthy after the surgery."
2
Reflecting or causing an unstable or disturbed mental or emotional state.
"He developed an unhealthy obsession with checking his phone."
How to Use Unhealthy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBad for the body, or (for behaviour or attitudes) mentally or emotionally harmful.
Common pairings
unhealthy diet
unhealthy obsession
unhealthy lifestyle
Word Forms
unhealthier comparative, more unhealthy comparative, unhealthiest superlative, most unhealthy superlative
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “unhealthy”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
A diet high in sugar is _____.
Etymology
From un- + healthy.