unhealthy
- 01 A2 Elementary
likely to make you sick or cause health problems over time.
conducive to poor health; describing habits, diets, or environments that negatively impact physical well-being.
Simple“Eating too much fast food is an unhealthy habit that can lead to weight gain.”
In context“The city's air quality reached unhealthy levels during the heatwave, prompting officials to advise residents to stay indoors.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
not in good health; having a disease or a weak body.
not possessing good health; physically unwell or displaying symptoms of illness.
Simple“The plant looked unhealthy because it hadn't been watered in weeks.”
In context“The doctor was concerned by the patient's unhealthy complexion and ordered a series of blood tests to rule out anemia.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
describing a feeling, relationship, or interest that is not normal or causes mental stress.
indicative of or contributing to a disturbed mental or emotional state; often used to describe obsessive or toxic social dynamics.
Simple“They decided to break up because they were in an unhealthy relationship.”
In context“The psychologist noted that the patient had developed an unhealthy obsession with social media validation, which was affecting his self-esteem.”
From un- + healthy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.