Not conducive to good health; harmful to physical or mental well-being, or showing signs of poor health.
Middle English compound formed from 'un-' (not) + 'healthy' (from Old English 'hæl' meaning whole or sound). The concept evolved from physical wholeness to broader wellness including mental and social health.
The word 'unhealthy' has expanded far beyond physical ailments to describe relationships, habits, obsessions, and even economic systems. This linguistic evolution reflects our growing understanding that health is holistic, not just the absence of disease.
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