hefty

adjective

ˈhef-tē 

heftier; heftiest

1

: quite heavy

a hefty book

2

a

: marked by bigness, bulk, and usually strength

a hefty football player

b

: powerful, mighty

gave the door a hefty shove

c

: impressively large : substantial

hefty portions

a hefty price

heftily

ˈhef-tə-lē 

adverb

heftiness

ˈhef-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of hefty

• massive
• heavy

Examples of hefty in a Sentence

He was a tall, hefty man.

Her boss gave her a hefty raise.

a hefty dose of irony

He gave the door a hefty kick.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Arclight alone was a vital place to launch independent and arthouse films, providing them a launch pad and profile during awards season, as well as hefty ticket sales. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 21 July 2026

Continue reading … TERMINAL TROUBLE – American travelers warned a common packing mistake could lead to prison or hefty fines. — FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026

Voting more than once, tampering with ballots, lying about your residence to vote somewhere else or casting someone else’s ballot are crimes that can be punished with hefty fines and prison time. — Ali Swenson, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026

From a certain perspective, Odysseus is a guy with a lot of convenient excuses for his inability to return home, many of which require a hefty suspension of disbelief. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 18 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hefty

• carries a hefty price tag
• hefty price tag

Rhymes for hefty

• lefty

Kids Definition

hefty

adjective

ˈhef-tē 

heftier; heftiest

: heavy entry 1 sense 1a, bulky

heftily

-tə-lē 

adverb

heftiness

-tē-nəs 

noun