What does "husky" mean?
Any of several breeds of dogs used as sled dogs.
Husky
adj, name, noun, slang
adj, name, noun, slang ·2 syllables ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of several breeds of dogs used as sled dogs.
- Grammar: husky is listed as adj, name, noun, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ass, beast of burden, beefy, beefy.
- Useful contrasts: cat, clear, delicate.
- Usage evidence: My dog is an Alaskan malamute, not a husky.
How to use "husky"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "husky" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "husky" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "husky" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "husky" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "husky" is acting as adj, name, noun, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ass" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "husky", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of several breeds of dogs used as sled dogs.
"The White House posted a cartoon to X on Wednesday of two Greenlandic mush teams with three huskies each, pointing towards the choice of the white pillars and the South Lawn or a tempestuous scene by the Great Wall of China and Red Square in Russia."
- 2 An Eskimo person. dated
- 3 breed of heavy-coated Arctic sled dog wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Hoarse and rough-sounding; throaty.
"Mr. Hyde was pale and dwarfish, he gave an impression of deformity without any nameable malformation, he had a displeasing smile, he had borne himself to the lawyer with a sort of murderous mixture of timidity and boldness, and he spoke with a husky, whispering and somewhat broken voice; all these were points against him, but not all of these together could explain the hitherto unknown disgust, loathing and fear with which Mr. Utterson regarded him."
- 2 Burly, stout; sometimes as a modifier for boys' clothing sizes that fit a large waist or chest. US, euphemistic
"You look like a good, husky man to pitch in the barnyard […]"
- 3 Abounding with husks; consisting of husks.
"Some swains have sown before: but most have found A husky harvest from the grudging ground."
- 4 Belligerent; hostile and uncooperative. archaic, slang
"“Well, here it is,” said Silver. “We want that treasure, and we’ll have it — that’s our point! You would just as soon save your lives, I reckon; and that’s yours. You have a chart, haven’t you?” “That’s as may be,” replied the captain. “Oh, well, you have, I know that,” returned Long John. “You needn’t be so husky with a man; there ain’t a particle of service in that, and you may lay to it. What I mean is, we want your chart. Now, I never meant you no harm, myself.”"
Adjective
- 1 deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion wordnet
- 2 muscular and heavily built wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 Any of the languages of the Eskimo peoples. dated
"For quotations using this term, see Citations:Husky."
Example
"My dog is an Alaskan malamute, not a husky."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "husky"?
Common synonyms include: ass, beast of burden, beefy, beefy, big, bouncing.
How do you use "husky" in a sentence?
My dog is an Alaskan malamute, not a husky.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From husk + -y; in relation to voice, from the sense "dry as a husk" or "tough as a husk".
Etymology 2
Shortening of husky dog, where husky is ultimately from the same Old Montagnais root as Eskimo.
Etymology 3
Ultimately related to Eskimo; see husky (“sled dog”) for more.