a hefty majority

USAGE SUMMARY

"a hefty majority" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically means a strong or large majority, so it can be used to describe a group or opinion that surpasses an ordinary majority by a significant margin. For example, "A hefty majority of Canadians voted in favor of the new law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

Mr Sarkozy seems well placed to win a hefty majority.

The Economist

The Democrats will have at least 57 seats, a hefty majority.

The Economist

His nominee must be confirmed by the Senate, which should be easy, since his party has a hefty majority.

The Economist

A hefty majority of Americans back Mr Obama's plan to bring all troops home from Afghanistan by 2016.

The Economist

Separate polls show a hefty majority of voters would be unhappy if their representatives stripped protections from public land.

The Guardian

Mr. Cuomo's bill went nowhere, despite the fact that a hefty majority of legislators signed a pledge in 2010 to support such a commission.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

The equity it's taken in each respective startup is said to be between 20 and 70percentnt — so spanning the gamut of a minority stake to an unusually hefty majority share.

TechCrunch

Fourteen Republican senators voted for the Senate bill, giving it a hefty bipartisan majority.

The Economist

If such a big swing were repeated nationwide in the midterms, it would produce a hefty Democratic majority.

The New Yorker

It was retaken with a hefty 11,840 majority by Labour in the 2010 general election by Margaret Curran.

The Guardian

Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party also secured a hefty parliamentary majority of more than two-thirds, winning 160 of the 210 seats.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a hefty majority" to describe situations where the majority is not only present but also significantly larger than the minority, indicating a strong consensus or mandate.

Common error

Avoid using "a hefty majority" when the majority is only slightly over 50%. The word "hefty" implies a considerable margin, so a simple "majority" is more appropriate for closer outcomes.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a hefty majority" functions as an adjective phrase modifying the noun "majority". It describes the size or extent of the majority, indicating that it is substantial and noteworthy. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"A hefty majority" is a phrase used to describe a significantly large majority, often employed in news and media contexts to emphasize strong consensus. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. While versatile, it's best suited for situations where the majority is noticeably larger than a simple 50%, as the term "hefty" suggests a considerable margin. Alternatives such as "a substantial majority" or "a significant majority" can be used interchangeably, but "hefty" adds an extra layer of emphasis. Therefore, it's a useful and vivid way to describe a dominant proportion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a substantial majority

Replaces "hefty" with "substantial", maintaining the sense of a significant proportion.

a significant majority

Substitutes "hefty" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the majority.

a large majority

Replaces "hefty" with "large", focusing on the size of the majority.

a considerable majority

Uses "considerable" instead of "hefty", suggesting a noteworthy or appreciable majority.

an overwhelming majority

Emphasizes the dominance of the majority by using "overwhelming".

a vast majority

Replaces "hefty" with "vast", indicating a very large proportion.

a sizable majority

Substitutes "hefty" with "sizable", highlighting the notable size of the majority.

a comfortable majority

Indicates that the majority is large enough to provide reassurance or stability.

a dominant majority

Highlights the controlling influence of the majority.

a sweeping majority

Implies a comprehensive and decisive majority.

FAQs

What does "a hefty majority" mean?

The phrase "a hefty majority" refers to a noticeably large or significant majority. It implies that the group or number constituting the majority is not just slightly over half, but considerably more.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a hefty majority"?

Use "a hefty majority" when you want to emphasize that the majority is substantial and decisive. It's suitable in contexts where the difference between the majority and the minority is significant.

What are some alternatives to "a hefty majority"?

You can use alternatives like "a substantial majority", "a significant majority", or "an overwhelming majority" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "a hefty majority" formal or informal?

"A hefty majority" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it's more common in news and media reporting. In highly formal or academic writing, consider using alternatives like "a significant majority" or "a considerable majority".