characteristic of, conducive to, or resulting from ill-health
an unhealthy complexion
an unhealthy atmosphere
3.
morbid or unwholesome
4. informal
dangerous; risky
Derived forms
unhealthily (unˈhealthily)
adverb
unhealthiness (unˈhealthiness)
noun
unhealthful in American English
(unˈhelθfəl)
adjective
not conducive to good health; unwholesome
unhealthful food
Derived forms
unhealthfulness
noun
Word origin
[1570–80; un-1 + healthful]This word is first recorded in the period 1570–80. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: assimilate, deadhead, huddle, refraction, splitun- is a prefix meaning “not,” freely used as an English formative, giving negative oropposite force in adjectives and their derivative adverbs and nouns (unfair; unfairly; unfairness; unfelt; unseen; unfitting; unformed; unheard-of; un-get-at-able), and less freely used in certain other nouns (unrest; unemployment)
Examples of 'unhealthful' in a sentence
unhealthful
He doesn't deny that modern western lifestyles have many unhealthful components.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
She would read, she would write, and she would be free from 'unhealthful, uncomfortable ... inconvenient ... fettering, hampering, monstrous skirts'.