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

Liis’s elegant perfume pendants have a pleasurably hefty weight to them, like next-gen Elsa Peretti bottle pendants. — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026

This is a massive season for a fourth-year player who could be in line for a hefty second contract. — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026

This hefty, 16-pound steel heats up quickly and holds onto that heat. — Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026

In addition to Apple itself and major retailers, carriers are always a good place to look for hefty discounts or deals on phones. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 31 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