English Reference
Adjective

stocky

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈstɑki/ UK /stˈɒki/ stocky

adj.having a strong, thick, and solid build. You use this to describe someone or something that is not tall but has a lot of muscle or weight.

adj.having a thick, solid, and muscular build; sturdy in appearance. Often used to describe physical stature or the robust construction of objects.


SIMPLE

The boxer has a stocky build and a lot of power.

CONTEXTUAL

The old oak table was stocky and heavy, built to last for generations in the family home.

COMPLEX

While his brother was tall and lanky, the younger sibling was stocky and broad-shouldered, giving him a more grounded and powerful presence on the field.

The man died in his 50s or 60s, was of stocky build and stood 5ft 1in tall.

The Guardian· 30 Aug 2026

From stock + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated