What does bulkiness mean?
Bulkiness is a noun denoting the quality of being bulky — that is, of occupying considerable space or volume, especially in a way that makes an object awkward to carry, store, or use. It derives from 'bulky', the adjective form of 'bulk', with the suffix '-ness' converting the quality into an abstract noun. The word carries a mildly negative connotation: while largeness can sometimes be desirable, calling attention to something's bulkiness typically frames that size as a problem. It appears frequently in consumer contexts, such as reviews of electronics, outerwear, luggage, and furniture, where designers are praised for reducing bulkiness and criticized for failing to do so. It also surfaces in discussions of packaging, shipping, and storage, where physical volume translates directly into cost or inconvenience. Closely related terms include 'unwieldiness', which emphasizes difficulty of handling rather than sheer size, and 'cumbersomeness', which stresses obstruction or burden. Bulkiness is standard in both British and American English and is appropriate in both informal and moderately formal writing.
nounThe quality or state of being bulky; the condition of having considerable size, volume, or mass relative to weight, often in a way that makes something unwieldy or difficult to handle or store.
- The state or quality of being large and unwieldy in size or volume.
- Excessive size that makes an object inconvenient to store, transport, or wear.
"The bulkiness of the winter coat made it impossible to pack in a carry-on bag."
"Engineers reduced the bulkiness of the device by shrinking its battery compartment."
"He complained about the bulkiness of the textbook in his backpack."
Incorrect — this word has no plural form. As an uncountable abstract noun denoting a quality, bulkiness is not used in the plural.
"N/A — always singular: 'the bulkiness of the sofa made moving difficult.'"
Bulkiness is one of those rare words whose very sound feels heavy — a mouthful of syllables describing exactly what it means.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bulkiness
Bulkiness is formed from 'bulky', the adjective derived from the noun 'bulk', combined with the suffix '-ness', which turns adjectives into abstract nouns. The noun 'bulk' entered English from Old Norse 'búlkr', meaning cargo or heap of goods, appearing in Middle English in maritime and commercial senses before broadening to mean great size or mass generally. The adjective 'bulky' developed in the early modern period, and 'bulkiness' followed as a natural derivation once the quality needed to be named as a concept in its own right.
Related word forms
How bulkiness is actually used
Neutral to slightly negative in connotation — it usually implies that size is a drawback rather than an asset. Common in product reviews, technical writing about equipment, and everyday complaints about clothing or luggage. More formal registers may prefer 'unwieldiness' or 'cumbersomeness' for the inconvenience aspect.
Easily confused with bulkiness
Bulk is the underlying quality of large size or mass itself (and can be a verb meaning to enlarge), while bulkiness is specifically the noun naming that quality as a property of an object.