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

But the tale is even more poignant now, because as part of the team’s offensive transformation, fueled by the hiring of former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, the Vikings are handing Bredeson a hefty role. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

New York — Investors’ concerns over issues like inflation and hefty government deficits, plus more competition from corporate bonds, are driving a global bond market sell-off, pushing up borrowing costs for governments and everyday people alike. — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026

That’s a hefty frame to haul around a track, even without water on the pavement. — Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Annual memberships start at two thousand dollars, not including a hefty joining fee. — Jake Offenhartz, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 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