# hardy

/ˈhɑɹdi/ (US) · /hˈɑːdi/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hardy
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

strong and able to survive difficult conditions like cold weather or hard work. You use this to describe plants that live through the winter or people who do not get sick easily.

For teachers: capable of enduring fatigue, hardship, or exposure to harsh environmental conditions. Often used in botanical contexts to describe plants that survive winter outdoors without protection.

## Examples

- These hardy plants survive even in the coldest winters.
- The mountain guides are a hardy group of people who spend all year working in freezing temperatures.
- While many tropical species require a greenhouse to survive the frost, these hardy shrubs can be planted directly in the garden and will thrive with minimal maintenance.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is a hearty person who survives the cold." but "He is a hardy person who survives the cold." — Learners often confuse 'hardy' (strong/tough) with 'hearty' (loud/cheerful or large, as in a meal).

## Usage notes

- Typically used as an attributive adjective before a noun, though it can also follow a linking verb.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.