stubby

American  

[stuhb-ee] / ˈstʌb i /

adjective

stubbier, stubbiest

1. of the nature of or resembling a stub.

2. short and thick or broad; thick-set or squat.

   stubby fingers.

3. consisting of or abounding in stubs.

4. bristly, as the hair or beard.

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stubby British  

/ ˈstʌbɪ /

adjective

1. short and broad; stumpy or thickset

2. bristling and stiff

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noun

1. Also called: stubbie.  slang a small bottle of beer

Other Word Forms

• stubbily
  adverb
• stubbiness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of stubby

First recorded in 1565–75; stub ¹ + -y ¹

Explanation

Stubby things are thick and short, like your sister's stubby little toes or the stubby remains of your favorite pencil that's been sharpened until it's barely long enough to hold. For some reason, this adjective is most commonly used to describe people's fingers and toes: "I always wanted to be a concert pianist like my brother, but my fingers were just too stubby." But you can use it for anything short and blunt, like the stubby baby carrots your mom packs in your lunch or the stubby, useless arms of an upright dinosaur like Tyrannosaurus rex.

Example Sentences

“They’re snitches,” he said, raising a stubby thermal scope to one eye.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

"Its stubby little arms with only one row of suckers set it apart from most octopus we are familiar with," Voight said.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

He wore black turtlenecks, short-sleeved because it was summer, and kept a stubby, utterly earnest ponytail.

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025

The complaints roll in: The fork tines are too stubby, the dessert spoon holds its contents hostage.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 14, 2025

Miguel had the stubby controller rod gripped in front of his chest, wielding it like a lightsaber.

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein