adjective
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big and strong
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characterized by vigour or force
a hefty blow
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large, bulky, or heavy
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sizable; involving a large amount of money
a hefty bill
a hefty wage
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of hefty
Explanation
Something that's hefty is big and heavy. When you have to lug a hefty suitcase around, it helps if it has wheels. Hefty objects are large and bulky, and you can describe people as hefty when they're big and brawny and strong. When you buy a hefty bag of dog food for your hefty bull mastiff, you might want to ask a hefty young employee if she'll help you carry it to your car. Hefty comes from heft, which means both "to lift" and "weight or heaviness."
Vocabulary lists containing hefty
The Omnivore's Dilemma
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The Wednesday Wars
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Hello, Universe
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Many residents facing demolition orders are opting to take sledgehammers to their own properties to avoid hefty costs and fines imposed by the municipality which typically total tens of thousands of dollars.
From BBC • Jun. 12, 2026
The rupiah has been among Asia's worst performers in 2026 and Indonesia's stock market has also taken a hefty hit, shedding more than 30 percent since the turn of the year.
From Barron's • Jun. 11, 2026
They may need to consider hefty layouts on renewables and nuclear power to ensure steadier energy supplies ahead of any new disruption.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
But his new target price starts to value Tesla on earnings potential in 2030 and beyond, which is when he thinks revenue and margin performance will inflect higher following the current period of hefty spending.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 5, 2026
The price of the meal was set at a deliberately hefty fifteen shillings to discourage those whose qualifications were merely cerebral.
From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
