Wellness is generally used to mean a healthy balance of the mind-body and spirit that results in an overall feeling of well-being.

In the context of alternative medicine, Halbert L. Dunn, M.D. defined wellness as "an integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the individual is capable. It requires that the individual maintain a continuum of balance and purposeful direction within the environment where he is functioning." He also stated that "wellness is a direction in progress toward an ever-higher potential of functioning".

Singapore National Wellness Association defines wellness as an active process of becoming aware of and making choices toward a more successful existence. This is consistent with a shift in focus away from illness in viewing human health, typical of contexts where the term wellness is used. In other words, wellness is a view of health that emphasizes the state of the entire being and its ongoing development.

Wellness can also be described as "the constant, conscious pursuit of living life to its fullest potential."