wellness

wellness — noun

1. a way of living that keeps you physically and mentally well through deliberate h

1.nounB1
Definition

a way of living that keeps you physically and mentally well through deliberate habits such as eating nutritious food, exercising, and managing stress

Example

Hari improved his overall wellness by walking to work every day.

collocation: overall wellness

The nurse told Mark that wellness involves both the body and the mind.

Common collocations
  • overall wellness
  • physical wellness
  • mental wellness
  • improve wellness
  • maintain wellness
  • promote wellness
Synonyms
  • health

    broader term that does not necessarily imply active effort

  • well-being

    includes emotional and social aspects, not just physical condition

  • fitness

    more specifically about physical capability and endurance

Antonyms
  • illness

    the opposite of being in good health

  • sickness

    a state of poor health that wellness aims to prevent

Usage Note

Unlike the word 'health,' which can refer to any state of the body, 'wellness' emphasises the active effort to stay healthy through deliberate habits and choices.

Common Mistakes

I go to the gym for my health and wellness.
I go to the gym to improve my wellness.
'Wellness' already implies an active approach to health, so pairing both words is often redundant.

2. the range of services, activities, and goods intended to make people feel better

2.nounB2
Definition

the range of services, activities, and goods intended to make people feel better physically and emotionally, or the commercial sector built around these

Example

The hotel opened a new wellness centre with a pool and yoga studios.

compound noun: wellness centre

Gabriela signed up for a workplace wellness programme that offers free health checks.

collocation: wellness programme

Common collocations
  • wellness industry
  • wellness programme
  • wellness centre
  • wellness retreat
  • corporate wellness
  • wellness products
Synonyms
  • health promotion

    more formal term for activities that improve health

  • self-care

    focuses on personal rather than commercial efforts

  • holistic health

    emphasises treating the whole person, not just physical symptoms

Usage Note

In this sense, 'wellness' often modifies another noun (wellness centre, wellness programme, wellness industry). It refers to the commercial or organised side of healthy living rather than the personal state of being healthy.

Common Mistakes

I bought a wellness.
I joined a wellness programme.
'Wellness' in this sense is uncountable and typically used as a modifier, not a countable object you can own.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Wellness, health, fitness, and well-being all relate to a person's physical condition, but they differ in scope and emphasis. Health is the broadest term — it simply describes the state of being free from illness or injury and can be neutral or passive. Wellness goes further by adding the idea of active effort: a person pursues wellness through daily choices about diet, exercise, and stress. Well-being is the widest of the four, covering emotional, social, and even financial aspects of quality of life. Fitness is the narrowest, focusing on physical capability, endurance, and measurable performance. For example, 'She has good health but needs to work on her wellness' suggests that although she is not sick, she could make more active lifestyle choices. Similarly, 'The gym improves fitness' highlights physical ability, while 'The retreat improves well-being' covers a broader, more holistic benefit.

wellness ↗health ↗fitness ↗well-being ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • achieve wellness
  • focus on wellness
  • improve wellness
  • work toward wellness

Etymology

English

The word 'wellness' was formed in English in the 1600s by adding the suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'well,' meaning 'in good health.' It was rarely used for centuries, then was revived in the mid-1900s as the holistic health movement grew, becoming a common term for actively maintaining one's health.