heavy-duty

[hev-ee-doo-tee, -dyoo-]

See more synonyms for heavy-duty on Thesaurus.com

adjective

providing an unusual amount of power, durability, etc.: heavy-duty machinery; heavy-duty shoes.
very important, impressive, or serious: heavy-duty involvement; heavy-duty questions.

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Origin of heavy-duty

First recorded in 1910–15

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

firm heavy vigorous secure tough capable solid big forceful able steady tenacious athletic substantial stable active robust durable energetic huge

Examples from the Web for heavy-duty

Contemporary Examples

Increasing fuel-economy standards for heavy-duty vehicles is, too.
Obama’s Bad Salesmanship
Michael Tomasky
June 25, 2013
He always brought a heavy-duty hockey duffel with him to work, but he hit the gym more often and toned down.
Britney Spears and Jason Trawick: He’s Her Fiancé, Manager, and Conservator
Ramin Setoodeh
September 11, 2012
Two rebel commanders tell Eli Lake they could oust Assad within a month—if the U.S. supplies them with some heavy-duty weapons.
Syrian Opposition Leaders: We Need U.S. Weapons
Eli Lake
July 23, 2012
Cover the roasting pan with a fitted top or heavy-duty aluminum foil.
An American Prairie Feast
Sophie Menin
July 17, 2010
Remove the roasting pan from the heat and carefully cover it with a fitted lid or heavy-duty aluminum foil.
An American Prairie Feast
Sophie Menin
July 17, 2010

Historical Examples

He ran some heavy-duty motors off it and a few other things like that.
With No Strings Attached
Gordon Randall Garrett (AKA David Gordon)
The elder Dr. Arcot glanced in surprise at the heavy-duty ammeter in a control panel.
Islands of Space
John W Campbell
A heavy-duty drilling machine performs this work, then the block goes to the lathe for further operations.
Aviation Engines
Victor Wilfred Pag
The guard was a big man, with a heavy-duty stunner resting in the crook of his elbow.
Gold in the Sky
Alan Edward Nourse
He stepped back and to one side and reached for his heavy-duty pencil—the dog gave a low growl of warning and crouched for a leap.
History Repeats
George Oliver Smith

British Dictionary definitions for heavy-duty

heavy-duty

noun (modifier)

made to withstand hard wear, bad weather, etcheavy-duty uniforms
subject to high import or export taxes

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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for heavy-duty

adj.

"durable, strong," 1914; see heavy + duty.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper