husky

¹ American  

[huhs-kee] / ˈhʌs ki /

adjective

huskier, huskiest

1. big and strong; burly.

   Synonyms:

   strapping, brawny, robust

2. (of the voice) having a semiwhispered vocal tone; somewhat hoarse, as when speaking with a cold or from grief or passion.

   Synonyms:

   throaty, rasping, gruff, harsh

3. like, covered with, or full of husks.

4. made in a size meant for the larger or heavier than average boy.

   size 18 husky pants.

5. for, pertaining to, or wearing clothing in this size.

   the husky department; husky boys.

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noun

plural

huskies

1. a size of garments meant for the larger or heavier than average boy.

2. Informal. a big, strong person.

husky ² American  

[huhs-kee] / ˈhʌs ki /

noun

plural

huskies

1. Eskimo dog.

2. Siberian husky.

3. Canadian Slang. Husky,

   1. an Inuit.

   2. the language of the Inuit.

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husky ¹ British  

/ ˈhʌskɪ /

noun

1. a breed of Arctic sled dog with a thick dense coat, pricked ears, and a curled tail

2. slang

   1. a member of the Inuit people

   2. the Inuit language

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husky ² British  

/ ˈhʌskɪ /

adjective

1. (of a voice, an utterance, etc) slightly hoarse or rasping

2. of, like, or containing husks

3. informal big, strong, and well-built

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Other Word Forms

• huskily adverb
• huskiness noun

Etymology

Origin of husky¹

First recorded in 1545–55 husky ¹ for def. 3, 1720-25 husky ¹ for def. 2, 1860–65 husky ¹ for def. 7, and 1890–95 husky ¹ for def. 1; husk + -y ¹, -y ²

Origin of husky²

First recorded in 1870–75; shortening of husky dog, husky breed; compare Newfoundland and Labrador dialect Husky “an Inuit from Labrador,” earlier Huskemaw, Uskemaw, ultimately from the same Algonquian source as Eskimo

Explanation

If your voice is low and gruff, it's husky. A deep, gravelly voice is husky, and you're husky if you have a large, muscled, heavy body. You might even be a husky person with a husky voice. When husky is a noun, it's a northern breed of dog that's bred to pull a sled. Your Alaskan Husky could have a husky bark, and your voice might be the result of a bad cold, or it just might be the normal way you speak. The husky that describes a voice comes from husk, in the sense of "dry as a husk." The husky dog's root is from 1850s Canadian English, hoskey.

Example Sentences

Spiro favors crawling tempos and unadorned piano melodies, which leave more room for her husky voice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 18, 2026

The shouts — a husky voice with a Southern surf bro twang — echoed in the dojo as a 4-year-old blond boy with a headband reading “Lil’ Dragon” punched up at a scowling mannequin.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2025

When her family's 13-year-old husky passed away they decided to get an Alaskan Malamute puppy - a breed originally used as sled dogs and relied upon for endurance and strength.

From BBC • Oct. 13, 2025

Back in 2010, the husky twin-turbo V6 and slick eight-speed automatic would have seemed almost magical.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 2, 2025

He looked up at the husky bear spirit with his kindest closed-lipped expression.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• muscular
• stocky
• stout
• strapping