hefty

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.

• IPA^(key): /ˈhɛfti/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛfti

hefty (comparative heftier, superlative heftiest)

1. With heft; heavy, strong, vigorous, mighty, impressive

   He can throw a hefty punch.

   • 1934, Frank Richards, The Magnet, Kidnapped from the Air:

     The Remove dormitory echoed to the old, familiar sound of Bunter's hefty snore.

   • 1998, The Best of San Francisco and Northern California, Gault Millau, →ISBN, page 75:

     Fill up on some of the heftiest burritos in captivity, fashioned around grilled beef, chicken, greasy and indulgent barbecued pork al pastor, carnitas and the more exotic .

   • 2009 January 20, Allan Kozinn, “Shafts of Sun in Winter From the Italian Baroque”, in The New York Times‎:

     on Sunday four more violinists, a second violist and a harpsichordist were added to give the ripieno sections of the fast movements a heftier punch than the smaller group delivered.

2. Strong; bulky.

   They use some hefty bolts to hold up road signs.

3. (of a person) Possessing physical strength and weight; rugged and powerful; powerfully or heavily built.

   He was a tall, hefty man.

4. Heavy, weighing a lot.

   She carries a hefty backpack full of books.

5. (of a number or amount) Large, healthy.

   That's going to cost you a hefty sum.

   a hefty fine