chubby
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of chubby
Explanation
Someone who's chubby is plump or slightly overweight. If the vet mentions that your cat's getting a little chubby, you might need to cut down on the cat treats. Many toddlers and young children have round, chubby cheeks, puppies have chubby little bellies, and Santa Claus is perhaps the most famously chubby mythical figure. The word chubby dates from the early 17th century, when it literally meant "looks like a chub," a somewhat round-shaped river fish. There may also be a connection to the Old Norse kumben, "stumpy."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Popular throughout New England in the late 1960s for their vocal-harmony ballads and club performances, the Tavares brothers—first performing as Chubby and the Turnpikes and then as just the Turnpikes—struggled to gain national exposure.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 25, 2026
Other inductees included arena rockers Bad Company, who sang "Can't Get Enough," and "The Twist" singer Chubby Checker.
From Barron's • Nov. 9, 2025
In 2020, the company issued a letter to Los Angeles-based Chubby Snacks over that company’s prepackaged PB&J sandwiches, claiming the products were too similar.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025
VIP festivalgoers will gain access to even more culinary experiences, including caviar-crowned chicken nuggets from Le Burger by Camphor and Wagyu and uni-topped delights from Chubby Club in the 12 Peaks VIP area.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2025
Manuel asked while Chubby Checker's song told us all to “come on and twist.”
From "The Red Umbrella" by Christina Gonzalez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
