bulky

adjective

ˈbəl-kē How to pronounce bulky (audio)
 also  ˈbu̇l-
bulkier; bulkiest
1
a
: having bulk
b(1)
: large of its kind
(2)
2
: having great volume in proportion to weight
a bulky knit sweater
bulkily adverb
bulkiness noun

Examples of bulky in a Sentence

a big, bulky football player bulky packages might cost more to mail
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Traditional ceiling fans come in limited styles, many of which feel dated or bulky. Lauren Thomann, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2025 Recycling sorting machines were large, bulky, and expensive, and required human oversight—including, often, forcing humans to wade through piles of trash to handle things that the machine had missed. Chris Stokel-Walker, Fortune, 26 June 2025 Unlike most slip-on sneakers, this one has laces, and every one of its details feels intentional: from that sumptuous texture right down to the dependable, supportive rubber sole that’s anything but bulky. Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 25 June 2025 Cinema cameras are too bulky to mount on Formula One cars for filming at high speed, and mounting a GoPro wasn't exactly what F1 cinematographer Claudio Miranda and director Joseph Kosinski were considering. Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bulky

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bulky was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Bulky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bulky. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

bulky

adjective
bulkier; bulkiest
1
: large in size or mass
2
: being large and hard to handle
bulkiness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bulky

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