chubby

American  

[chuhb-ee] / ˈtʃʌb i /

adjective

chubbier, chubbiest

1. round and plump.

   a chubby child; a chubby face.

   Synonyms:

   roly-poly, fleshy, heavy, pudgy

   Antonyms:

   skinny, thin, svelte, lean

---

chubby British  

/ ˈtʃʌbɪ /

adjective

1. (esp of the human form) plump and round

---

Other Word Forms

• chubbily adverb
• chubbiness noun

Etymology

Origin of chubby

First recorded in 1605–15; chub + -y ¹

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

The hopefuls included the daughter of late autocrat Alberto Fujimori, a comedian who imitates his rivals, a fugitive, and a business magnate who has adopted the nickname Porky because of his chubby face.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

In early scenes, he has a small curved line denoting a chubby chin, which changes over time to straight lines on each cheek, narrowing his face when he is old and infirm.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 16, 2026

Think gingerbread men, only soft, chubby, and less fearful.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

He was the chubby kid at Sedbergh, told he would not make a county cricketer because he was not fit enough in the field.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2025

Nathan wanted to look like Uncle Jet when he grew up, tall and muscled, instead of being short and chubby.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• chunky
• flabby
• plump
• portly
• pudgy
• stout