What does chunkiest mean?
Chunkiest is the superlative of the adjective chunky, meaning largest or thickest in terms of chunks, pieces, or overall bulk. It is used across everyday contexts: food may be described as chunkiest when it contains the biggest pieces, as in a salsa or soup; clothing, shoes, and furniture are chunkiest when their soles, knits, or frames are the most substantial; and a person may be called the chunkiest in a group, though this sense is informal and can come across as unkind. The word carries connotations of heartiness, solidity, and comfort rather than elegance — a chunkiest sweater is one you would reach for on a freezing day, not at a formal dinner. It appears frequently in food writing, fashion journalism, and casual speech, and pairs naturally with nouns such as slices, heels, knitwear, and soup. Its base word, chunk, likely shares an origin with 'chump', both suggesting a short, thick lump.
adjectiveSuperlative form of 'chunky': having the largest or thickest pieces, parts, or sections; most substantial and solid in build or appearance.
- (of food or other matter) cut or consisting of the largest thick pieces.
- (of clothing, footwear, furniture, etc.) having the heaviest, most solid construction.
- (of a person's build) stockiest or most heavily built.
"She picked the chunkiest sweater on the rack for the cold mountain trip."
"The chunkiest pieces of pineapple sank to the bottom of the blender."
"He laced up the chunkiest trainers of the nineties revival."
From soup to sneakers to sweaters, 'chunky' has thickened its way into nearly every corner of English — and its superlative picks the biggest of them all.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chunkiest
Chunkiest derives from chunky, which comes from the noun 'chunk', meaning a short, thick piece or lump. Chunk first appeared in American English in the late seventeenth century, and although its exact origin is uncertain, many lexicographers connect it to 'chump', another English word for a thick block or lump, possibly influenced by words like 'chuck' and 'lump'. The adjective suffix '-y' formed chunky, and standard inflection added '-er' and '-est' to yield chunkier and chunkiest. Cognates within English itself are chiefly chunk and chump.
Word family
Usage notes
Informal to neutral register. Common in food writing and fashion commentary. When describing people, it can sound blunt or impolite; 'solidly built' is a tactful alternative.
Don't confuse with
This comparison is not well attested; a more useful distinction is with 'chubbier', which describes plumpness of people or animals rather than the thickness of pieces or objects.