Bulky means taking up a lot of space in an awkward or inconvenient way. A winter coat might be warm and comfortable, but it's bulky when you're trying to stuff it into your backpack or squeeze into a crowded car. A bulky package is one that's hard to carry not because it's heavy, but because it's large and unwieldy.

The word describes objects that are inconveniently large or thick, especially when you're trying to move them, store them, or wear them. A swimming pool is big, but we wouldn't call it bulky because it doesn't need to be moved or stored. A stack of thick textbooks is bulky. Old computer monitors were bulky compared to today's flat screens. Bulky furniture is hard to move through doorways.

When something is bulky, it usually creates practical problems. Bulky clothes make it hard to move freely. Bulky items take up precious space in a suitcase. Sometimes manufacturers work hard to make their products less bulky: phones have gotten thinner, sleeping bags compress more, and moving blankets fold more compactly. The opposite of bulky might be compact, slim, or streamlined.