adj
tubby
TUH-bee
Tubby (adj) means Short and round in build; plump. Example: “The cartoon showed a tubby cat lounging on a sofa.”
adj
1
Short and round in build; plump.
"The cartoon showed a tubby cat lounging on a sofa."
"He was a cheerful, tubby little man who loved his food."
How to use tubby
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly old-fashioned, informal word for someone who is short and plump.
When to use it
Informal and can come across as mocking, so it is usually best avoided as a description of a real person to their face.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- tubbies
- Comparative
- tubbier
- Superlative
- tubbiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cartoon showed a _____ cat lounging on a sofa.
Etymology
From tub + -y, describing someone shaped a bit like a barrel. It looks related to "chubby" but the resemblance is coincidental — the two words developed separately.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for tubby
See all rhymes for tubby →Frequently asked questions
What does “tubby” mean?
The word “tubby” means short and round in build; plump. In plain terms, a slightly old-fashioned, informal word for someone who is short and plump.
How do you pronounce “tubby”?
“Tubby” is pronounced TUH-bee (/ˈtʌbi/ in IPA).
How do you use “tubby” in a sentence?
Here is “tubby” used in a sentence: “The cartoon showed a tubby cat lounging on a sofa.”
What part of speech is “tubby”?
“Tubby” is an adjective.
