husky

1 of 4

adjective (1)

hus·​ky ˈhə-skē 

huskier; huskiest

: hoarse with or as if with emotion

huskily

ˈhə-skə-lē 

adverb

huskiness

ˈhə-skē-nəs 

noun

husky

2 of 4

adjective (2)

hus·​ky ˈhə-skē 

huskier; huskiest

1

: burly, robust

2

: large

husky

3 of 4

adjective (3)

ˈhə-skē 

huskier; huskiest

: resembling, containing, or full of husks

huskiness

4 of 4

noun

husk·​i·​ness -kēnə̇s 

-kin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being husky

Synonyms of husky

Adjective (1)

• hoarse
• gruff

Adjective (2)

• athletic
• burly
• powerful
• beefy
• mighty
• brawny
• hulking
• stout
• muscular
• strong

Examples of husky in a Sentence

Adjective (1)

a voice that was husky from an afternoon of cheering on the team

Adjective (2)

a husky weight lifter

the neighbors bought a fairly husky lawn mower for their small yard

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The 5-year-old husky mix is a regular at Spot's Place in Regina, Saskatchewan, usually attending Monday through Friday. —Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

In juvenile court Monday, as the teenager with a husky build and beard sat at the defendant’s table, Judge Christopher Van Meir ruled that the teen would remain in custody at least until the next court hearing, scheduled for April 27. —Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

Tucson resident Jaime Simpson recently came upon a husky dog out in the desert on its own, per Arizona's Family. —Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026

For husky owners, the incident served as a reminder that, while the breed is beloved for its personality, those operatic howls can sometimes cause real-world misunderstandings—even police visits. —Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

probably from husk huskiness, from obsolete husk to have a dry cough

Adjective (2)

probably from husk entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

circa 1722, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

1869, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (3)

1552, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing husky

• Siberian husky

Rhymes for husky

• dusky
• muskie
• musky

Kids Definition

husky

1 of 3 adjective

hus·​ky

ˈhəs-kē

huskier; huskiest

: hoarse sense 2

huskily

ˈhəs-kə-lē

adverb

huskiness

-kē-nəs

noun

husky

2 of 3 noun

hus·​ky

plural huskies

1

: a heavy-coated working dog especially of the New World arctic region

2

: siberian husky

husky

3 of 3 adjective

hus·​ky

huskier; huskiest

: burly, robust

Etymology

Adjective

probably derived from an obsolete sense of husk, meaning "to have a dry cough"

Noun

probably an altered form of Huskemaw, Uskemaw "Eskimo," from Cree aškime·w (same meaning)

Adjective

probably from husk "a hard outer covering"