# hefty

/ˈhɛfti/ (US) · /hˈɛfti/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. large and heavy

adjective · CEFR B2

heavy and solid in a way that feels powerful.

For teachers: possessing significant physical weight and bulk; powerfully built.

- He lifted the hefty suitcase into the overhead bin with both hands.
- The movers struggled to navigate the narrow staircase while carrying the hefty oak wardrobe, which seemed to weigh more than the rest of the furniture combined.

### 2. a large amount

adjective · CEFR B2

large in amount, especially when talking about money or a bill.

For teachers: impressively large in amount or degree; frequently used to describe financial costs, fines, or rewards.

- The company had to pay a hefty fine for breaking the safety rules.
- After the unexpected repairs, the homeowner was presented with a hefty bill that far exceeded the original estimate provided by the contractor.

## Examples

- He had to pay a hefty fine for parking illegally.
- The movers struggled to carry the hefty wooden wardrobe up the narrow stairs.
- The startup faced a hefty challenge when their primary investor withdrew support just weeks before the product launch.

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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.