Chubby means pleasantly plump or slightly overweight in a soft, rounded way. When someone describes a baby's chubby cheeks, they're talking about those adorable, round, squeezable cheeks that babies often have. A chubby puppy has a soft, rounded body that makes you want to pet it.

The word usually carries an affectionate tone rather than a mean one. People might describe chubby fingers, chubby legs, or a chubby face. A teddy bear might be described as chubby. The word suggests softness and roundness, not sharp angles or hard edges.

While chubby is often used kindly, especially when talking about babies or pets, it can sometimes hurt people's feelings when used to describe older kids or adults. Bodies come in all shapes and sizes, and commenting on someone's appearance requires thoughtfulness.

The word chubby is different from fat, which tends to be more blunt, or plump, which sounds a bit more formal.