stout

1 of 2

adjective

1
: strong of character: such as
a
: brave, bold
2
: physically or materially strong:
c
: sturdily constructed : substantial
3
: forceful
a stout attack
also : violent
a stout wind
4
a
: bulky in body : fat
b
: broad in proportion to length : large in diameter
a stout fly
a stout bird's bill
stoutish adjective
stoutly adverb
stoutness noun

stout

2 of 2

noun

1
: a very dark, full-bodied ale with a distinctive malty flavor that is typically brewed with unmalted roasted barley
Stout is a darker, heavily hopped ale that has a creamy head in the glass …Anthony Dias Blue
2
a
: a fat person
b
: a clothing size designed for the large figure
Choose the Right Synonym for stout

strong, stout, sturdy, stalwart, tough, tenacious mean showing power to resist or to endure.

strong may imply power derived from muscular vigor, large size, structural soundness, intellectual or spiritual resources.

strong arms
the defense has a strong case

stout suggests an ability to endure stress, pain, or hard use without giving way.

stout hiking boots

sturdy implies strength derived from vigorous growth, determination of spirit, solidity of construction.

a sturdy table
people of sturdy independence

stalwart suggests an unshakable dependability.

stalwart environmentalists

tough implies great firmness and resiliency.

a tough political opponent

tenacious suggests strength in seizing, retaining, clinging to, or holding together.

tenacious farmers clinging to an age-old way of life

Examples of stout in a Sentence

Adjective He has a stout heart. His lawyer put up a stout defense in court.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Our Pilgrim forebears brought their ingenuity, their industry, and their faith to a continent rich with natural resources and stout defenses. The Editors, National Review, 23 Nov. 2023 Tyreek Hill is dealing with a hand injury, and a stout defense should keep the Jets in this game for a while. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Nov. 2023 To know tea is to love it, but there can be so much to learn, from a simple teapot, short and stout, to the intricacies of an ancient tea ceremony. Sarah Rose, wsj.com, 2 Nov. 2023 The Patriots couldn’t do much against a stout Concordia defense. Aidan Thomas, Baltimore Sun, 8 Sep. 2023 Modern Times won two medals, a silver for Mega Devil’s Teeth: Double Dutch S’mores Edition, in the dessert or pastry stout category, and a bronze for Chaos Grid: The Final Final Course in the same category. Peter Rowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2023 Across his 42 years of existence, our stout hero has traversed galaxies, corporeal forms, even professions. Keep Mario Weird, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2023 It’s fashioned after classic Texas chili but adds bacon, tomatoes and a dark stout beer to amp the flavor. Julie Giuffrida, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2023 Throughout the first half, both the Reign (8-8-3, 27 points) and Thorns (9-5-5, 32 points) were stout defensively, organized, and creative on the attack. oregonlive, 17 Sep. 2023
Noun
The menu includes Irish favorites, from fish and chips and lamb shoulder braised in Irish stout to treacle brown bread. Wendy O’Dea, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023 There was still no shortage of options to choose from as the brewery generally offers around 18 beers on tap in styles that include Kölsch, IPA, light lagers and coffee stouts. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 1 Sep. 2023 Scoop vanilla ice cream into your glass, then pour on the fudge sauce and chocolate stout. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2023 Lynch added that a rotating coffee beer would be a regular feature — the first of which, a coffee stout, will be tapped in early October. oregonlive, 14 Sep. 2023 The full lineup of the 2023 Bourbon County Stout lineup is as follows: 2023 Bourbon County Brand Original Stout This is the classic release, a high-ABV (14.6 and 14.1 percent) stout that was aged for about 12 months in bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Heaven Hill, and Wild Turkey. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 7 Aug. 2023 Opened three years ago in a former ice house an hour south of Atlanta, Fox City serves pale ales, stouts and other craft beer. Ira Boudway, oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 There are all kinds of craft non-alcoholic beers on the market, like ales, stouts, lagers, pilsners, and more, Dr. Lafontaine says. Ashia Aubourg, SELF, 31 Aug. 2023 The recipe gets its hot chocolate name from an easy fudge sauce, which is heated with chocolate stout before making the float. Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stout.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Anglo-French estut, estout, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German stolz proud; perhaps akin to Old High German stelza stilt — more at stilt

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1677, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of stout was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near stout

Cite this Entry

“Stout.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stout. Accessed 9 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

stout

1 of 2 adjective
1
: strong of character : brave, bold
2
: physically or materially strong : sturdy, vigorous
3
: forceful
a stout attack
4
: bulky in body : overweight
stoutly adverb
stoutness noun

stout

2 of 2 noun
: a dark heavy beer

More from Merriam-Webster on stout

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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