adjective
-
big and strong
-
characterized by vigour or force
a hefty blow
-
large, bulky, or heavy
-
sizable; involving a large amount of money
a hefty bill
a hefty wage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of hefty
Explanation
Something that's hefty is big and heavy. When you have to lug a hefty suitcase around, it helps if it has wheels. Hefty objects are large and bulky, and you can describe people as hefty when they're big and brawny and strong. When you buy a hefty bag of dog food for your hefty bull mastiff, you might want to ask a hefty young employee if she'll help you carry it to your car. Hefty comes from heft, which means both "to lift" and "weight or heaviness."
Vocabulary lists containing hefty
The Omnivore's Dilemma
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Wednesday Wars
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Hello, Universe
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
There were also hefty losses in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Singapore.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
They may need to consider hefty layouts on renewables and nuclear power to ensure steadier energy supplies ahead of any new disruption.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
But the city’s hotels have been struggling under hefty wage mandates and taxes, as well as declining business.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 5, 2026
But his new target price starts to value Tesla on earnings potential in 2030 and beyond, which is when he thinks revenue and margin performance will inflect higher following the current period of hefty spending.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
The hefty ledger books waited on a huge wooden bookshelf that took up the far wall of the dim room.
From "Dactyl Hill Squad" by Daniel José Older
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.
