heffalump

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

A clumsy or overweight person.

Register: derogatory, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Violet, under the auspices of Jacques-Yves Cabillaud, had been continuing to expand her childish girth. At two she had already been pronounced a heffalump; by seven, she was the size and shape of a barrel.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “heffalump” mean?

A clumsy or overweight person.

Is “heffalump” formal or informal?

heffalump is generally derogatory, slang.