hardy

1 of 2

adjective

har·​dy ˈhär-dē 

hardier; hardiest

1

: bold, brave

a hardy intrepid spirit

2

: audacious, brazen

3

a

: accustomed to dealing with fatigue or hardships : robust

The soldiers were strong and hardy.

b

: capable of withstanding adverse conditions

hardy outdoor furniture

hardy plants

hardy cattle

hardily

ˈhär-dᵊl-ē 

adverb

hardiness

ˈhär-dē-nəs 

noun

hardiness

2 of 2

noun

har·​di·​ness ˈhärdēnə̇s 

ˈhȧd-, 

-din-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being hardy: such as

a

: capability of endurance or resistance

a race of great hardiness

specifically : the ability of a plant to survive under adverse conditions especially of low temperatures

b

: boldness, audacity, temerity

somewhere hardiness failed her

—Elizabeth Bowen

Synonyms of hardy

Adjective

• sturdy
• strong
• rugged
• tough
• stout
• vigorous

Examples of hardy in a Sentence

Adjective

Most of the soldiers were hardy young men.

Hardy fans stuck with the team through good times and bad.

Only the hardiest pilgrims made the journey.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Show hardy Oslovians your Scandi credentials by taking a quick dip in the fjord, then warming up your bones in The Thief’s hammam. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

As the name implies, hardy begonias can handle cold weather. —Lauren David, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026

Aucuba is hardy in all but the Upper South. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 27 May 2026

Men like Amherst likened the British situation in North America to previous campaigns against hardy, clever, and intractable Indigenous people that had taken centuries: the ancient Roman conquest of Britain, or the English conquest of Ireland. —Literary Hub, 26 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English hardi, from Anglo-French, from Old French *hardir to make hard, of Germanic origin; akin to Old English heard hard

Noun

Middle English hardinesse, from hardy entry 1 + -nesse -ness

First Known Use

Adjective

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hardy

• half-hardy

Rhymes for hardy

• hardie
• lardy
• pardy
• tardy
• foolhardy
• sephardi

Kids Definition

hardy

adjective

har·​dy ˈhärd-ē 

hardier; hardiest

1

: bold sense 1a, brave

2

: able to stand fatigue or hardships : robust

3

: able to survive unfavorable conditions (as of weather)

a hardy rose bush

hardily

ˈhärd-ᵊl-ē 

adverb

hardiness

ˈhärd-ē-nəs 

noun