# wholesome

/ˈhoʊɫsəm/ (US) · /hˈəʊlsʌm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wholesome
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. healthy for the body

adjective · CEFR B2

good for your physical health, especially when talking about food.

For teachers: conducive to physical health and well-being; typically used to describe nutritious, natural food.

- The farm shop sells wholesome bread and fresh vegetables grown in the local fields.
- The retreat focused on providing wholesome meals prepared with organic ingredients to help guests restore their physical vitality.

Usage: Usually precedes the noun it describes.

### 2. morally good or decent

adjective · CEFR B2

good for your mind or character because it is honest, kind, and not offensive.

For teachers: promoting moral well-being or suggesting a pure and decent character; often used for family-friendly entertainment.

- It was a wholesome film that the whole family could enjoy together.
- The brand built its reputation on a wholesome image, featuring advertisements that celebrated traditional community values and simple living.

Teaching tip: In modern internet slang, this is often used to describe content that is heartwarming or emotionally uplifting.

## Examples

- The family spent a wholesome afternoon hiking in the woods.
- The restaurant is famous for its wholesome meals made entirely from locally sourced, organic ingredients.
- While much of modern media relies on shock value, this film was praised for its wholesome portrayal of community spirit and traditional values.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.