hefty

adjective

ˈhef-tē 

heftier; heftiest

1

: quite heavy

2

a

: marked by bigness, bulk, and usually strength

a hefty football player

b

: powerful, mighty

c

: impressively large : substantial

hefty portions

heftily

ˈhef-tə-lē 

adverb

heftiness

ˈhef-tē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• heavy
• massive
• ponderous
• weighty

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

Most will charge you a hefty annual subscription fee, but some of the best ones are free. —Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 12 May 2025

In the immediate aftermath of San Siro and Champions League heartbreak against Inter, Hansi Flick’s men pulled out another magical display, crammed with plenty of mistakes but, more significantly, a hefty dollop of greatness. —Pol Ballús, New York Times, 12 May 2025

Numerous reports — from the Oregon and U.S. departments of energy, for example — supported the assertion that heftier transmission lines were needed. —Tony Schick, ProPublica, 12 May 2025

Place a hefty wager on the game of your choice and get a bonus refund following a loss. —Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 May 2025

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