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Added 7 October 2026

hefty

/ˈhɛfti/ adjective

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about hefty at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

With heft; heavy, strong, vigorous, mighty, impressive
He can throw a hefty punch.
Strong; bulky.
They use some hefty bolts to hold up road signs.
Possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful; powerfully or heavily built.
He was a tall, hefty man.

Origin

19th century. From heft (“weight”) + -y. The similarity with German heftig (“vigorous, violent, intense”) is apparently coincidental. From the German are Dutch, Danish, Norwegian heftig, Swedish häftig.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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