adj
beefy
BEE-fee
Beefy (adj) means Muscular and solidly built. Example: “The bouncer was a beefy guy in a tight black shirt.”
adj
1
Muscular and solidly built.
"Soon the Latino warrior had bared his beefy body. His bullet packed bandolier still draped over one shoulder served to emphasize the nakedness of the torso, as did the boots and the pants that were puddled about his ankles."
— Etienne, In Enemy Hands (1991)
"The barman was a big, beefy guy with his sleeves rolled up and tattoos on his arms."
"The bouncer was a beefy guy in a tight black shirt."
2
Tasting or smelling of beef.
"The Chicken Big Mac is similar to its beefy sibling; however, it replaces the two burgers with two tempura chicken patties."
— Jordan Valinsky, McDonald’s is finally selling the Chicken Big Mac in the US (2024)
"The soup had a rich, beefy flavor."
How to use beefy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither strongly built and muscular, or having the taste of beef.
Common pairings
beefy arms
beefy flavor
a beefy guy
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Word forms
- Comparative
- beefier
- Superlative
- beefiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bouncer was a _____ guy in a tight black shirt.
Etymology
From "beef" plus the adjective-forming ending "-y."
Related words
Rhymes for beefy
See all rhymes for beefy →Frequently asked questions
What does “beefy” mean?
The word “beefy” means muscular and solidly built. In plain terms, either strongly built and muscular, or having the taste of beef.
How do you pronounce “beefy”?
“Beefy” is pronounced BEE-fee (/ˈbiːfi/ in IPA).
How do you use “beefy” in a sentence?
Here is “beefy” used in a sentence: “The bouncer was a beefy guy in a tight black shirt.”
What part of speech is “beefy”?
“Beefy” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “beefy” have?
“Beefy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: muscular and solidly built.
