If you describe something as wholesome, you approve of it because you think it is likely to have a positive influence on people's behaviour or mental state, especially because it does not involve anything sexually immoral.
[approval]
...good, wholesome fun.
...a very decent and wholesome bunch of lads.
2. adjective
If you describe food as wholesome, you approve of it because you think it is good for your health.
[approval]
...fresh, wholesome ingredients.
The food is filling and wholesome.
Synonyms: healthy, good, strengthening, beneficial More Synonyms of wholesome
More Synonyms of wholesome
wholesome in British English
(ˈhəʊlsəm)
adjective
1.
conducive to health or physical wellbeing
2.
conducive to moral wellbeing
3.
characteristic or suggestive of health or wellbeing, esp in appearance
Derived forms
wholesomely (ˈwholesomely)
adverb
wholesomeness (ˈwholesomeness)
noun
Word origin
C12: from whole (healthy) + -some1; related to German heilsam healing
wholesome in American English
(ˈhoʊlsəm)
adjective
1.
promoting or conducive to good health or well-being; healthful
a wholesome climate
2.
tending to improve the mind or character
a wholesome film for children
3.
characterized by health and vigor of mind and body; sound
a wholesome young man
4.
tending to suggest health, or soundness
a wholesome look about the boys
Derived forms
wholesomely (ˈwholesomely)
adverb
wholesomeness (ˈwholesomeness)
noun
Word origin
ME holsom, akin to ON heilsamr, Ger heilsam: see whole & -some1
Examples of 'wholesome' in a sentence
wholesome
The objects of their desire are good and wholesome.
Christianity Today (2000)
It has taken until now for the sport to be regarded as wholesome family entertainment.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That wholesome image is a deception on the public.
The Sun (2016)
Yet there is something wholesome about her.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It represents all that is good and wholesome and right about the family car.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But the wholesome image belies the complexities on the ground.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Promotion of vitality by using wholesome foods to provide the body with the optimum nutrition it requires for building good resistance.
Turner, Roger Newman The Hayfever Handbook - a summer survival guide (1988)
Eat something wholesome at regular intervals.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Overall, this is wholesome fun for all ages.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
That is why it is essential that patients in our hospitals should receive wholesome, fresh food.
The Sun (2011)
This is a good soup for people who like plain, wholesome food.
Bennett, Carol Asthma and Eczema - special diet cookbook (1989)
It's freshly prepared with fresh and wholesome ingredients.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It's more about being prepared to take good and wholesome things on.
The Sun (2014)
They were horrified that this should result from the wholesome food produced on the farm, and disregarded the letter.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Could anything be more wholesome?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There is something weird about it; something murky; something not quite wholesome.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
So long as you don't feed the animals, zoos might be considered the epitome of wholesome entertainment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The town is sprinkled with delis, farm shops and cafes where fresh, wholesome fare is on the menu.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Despite their TV show origins the band managed to forge a credible and original path through the music world and were a positive and wholesome influence.
The Sun (2013)
Anne expanded like a flower under this wholesome influence and carried home to the admiring Matthew and the critical Marilla glowing accounts of schoolwork and aims.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
In other languages
wholesome
British English: wholesome ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as wholesome, you approve of it because you think it is likely to have a positive influence on people's behaviour or mental state, especially because it does not involve anything sexually immoral.
...wholesome family entertainment.
American English: wholesome
Brazilian Portuguese: saudável
Chinese: 有益身心的 >尤指不涉及非道德的性内容
European Spanish: sano
French: sain
German: gesund
Italian: sano
Japanese: 健全な
Korean: 건전한
European Portuguese: saudável
Latin American Spanish: sano
Chinese translation of 'wholesome'
wholesome
(ˈhəulsəm)
adj
[food]健康的 (jiànkāng de)
(= innocent) 健康向上的 (jiànkāng xiàngshàng de)
1 (adjective)
Definition
morally beneficial
It was all good, wholesome fun.
Synonyms
moral
The committee members are moral, competent people.
nice
clean
He became a model of clean living.
pure
pure and chaste thoughts
decent
innocent
the innocent child
worthy
worthy members of the community
ethical
Would it be ethical to lie to save a person's life?
respectable
honourable
uplifting
righteous
She concluded that it was impossible to find one righteous person.
exemplary
virtuous
The president is portrayed as a virtuous family man.
apple-pie (informal)
squeaky-clean
edifying
Opposites
blue
,
evil
,
dirty
,
corrupt
,
obscene
,
filthy
,
degrading
,
immoral
,
dishonest
,
pornographic
,
tasteless
,
pernicious
,
lewd
,
X-rated (informal)
,
trashy
,
unprincipled
,
unwholesome
2 (adjective)
Definition
physically beneficial
The food was filling and wholesome.
Synonyms
healthy
a healthy diet
good
Rain water was once considered to be good for the complexion.
strengthening
beneficial
vitamins which are beneficial to health
nourishing
Eat only sensible, nourishing foods.
nutritious
It is always important to choose enjoyable, nutritious foods.
sanitary
It's not the most sanitary place one could swim.
invigorating
the bright sun and invigorating northern air
salutary
hygienic
a kitchen that was easy to keep hygienic
healthful
Does the college cafeteria provide a healthful diet?
health-giving
salubrious
your salubrious lochside hotel
Opposites
rotten
,
unhealthy
,
putrid
,
unhygienic
,
unwholesome
Additional synonyms
in the sense of beneficial
Definition
helpful or advantageous
vitamins which are beneficial to health
Synonyms
favourable,
useful,
valuable,
helpful,
profitable,
benign,
wholesome,
advantageous,
expedient,
salutary,
win-win,
healthful,
serviceable,
salubrious,
gainful
in the sense of clean
Definition
free from dishonesty or corruption
He became a model of clean living.
Synonyms
moral,
good,
pure,
decent,
innocent,
respectable,
upright,
honourable,
impeccable,
exemplary,
virtuous,
chaste,
undefiled
in the sense of ethical
Definition
in accordance with principles of professional conduct
Would it be ethical to lie to save a person's life?
Synonyms
right,
morally right,
morally acceptable,
good,
just,
fitting,
fair,
responsible,
principled,
correct,
decent,
proper,
upright,
honourable,
honest,
righteous,
virtuous
Synonyms of 'wholesome'
wholesome
Explore 'wholesome' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of good
Definition
beneficial
Rain water was once considered to be good for the complexion.
Synonyms
beneficial,
useful,
healthy,
helpful,
favourable,
wholesome,
advantageous,
salutary,
salubrious
in the sense of healthful
Does the college cafeteria provide a healthful diet?
Synonyms
healthy,
beneficial,
good for you,
bracing,
nourishing,
wholesome,
nutritious,
invigorating,
salutary,
salubrious,
health-giving
in the sense of hygienic
a kitchen that was easy to keep hygienic
Synonyms
clean,
healthy,
sanitary,
pure,
sterile,
salutary,
disinfected,
germ-free,
aseptic
in the sense of innocent
Definition
without experience of evil
the innocent child
Synonyms
pure,
stainless,
immaculate,
moral,
virgin,
decent,
upright,
impeccable,
righteous,
pristine,
wholesome,
spotless,
demure,
chaste,
unblemished,
virginal,
unsullied,
sinless,
incorrupt
in the sense of invigorating
the bright sun and invigorating northern air
Synonyms
refreshing,
stimulating,
bracing,
fresh,
tonic,
uplifting,
exhilarating,
rejuvenating,
energizing,
healthful,
restorative,
salubrious,
rejuvenative
in the sense of nourishing
Eat only sensible, nourishing foods.
Synonyms
nutritious,
beneficial,
wholesome,
healthful,
health-giving,
nutritive,
alimentative
in the sense of nutritious
Definition
providing nourishment
It is always important to choose enjoyable, nutritious foods.
Synonyms
nourishing,
beneficial,
wholesome,
healthful,
health-giving,
nutritive,
alimental,
alimentative,
strengthening,
invigorating
in the sense of pure
Definition
innocent
pure and chaste thoughts
Synonyms
innocent,
virgin,
modest,
good,
true,
moral,
maidenly,
upright,
honest,
immaculate,
impeccable,
righteous,
virtuous,
squeaky-clean,
blameless,
chaste,
virginal,
unsullied,
guileless,
uncorrupted,
unstained,
undefiled,
unspotted
in the sense of righteous
Definition
moral, just, or virtuous
She concluded that it was impossible to find one righteous person.
Synonyms
virtuous,
good,
just,
fair,
moral,
pure,
ethical,
upright,
honourable,
honest,
equitable,
law-abiding,
squeaky-clean,
blameless
in the sense of salubrious
Definition
favourable to health
your salubrious lochside hotel
Synonyms
healthy,
beneficial,
good for you,
wholesome,
invigorating,
salutary,
healthful,
health-giving
Additional synonyms
in the sense of salutary
Definition
promoting health
Synonyms
healthy,
healthful,
salubrious
in the sense of sanitary
Definition
free from dirt or germs
It's not the most sanitary place one could swim.
Synonyms
hygienic,
clean,
healthy,
wholesome,
salubrious,
unpolluted,
germ-free
in the sense of virtuous
Definition
morally good
The president is portrayed as a virtuous family man.