Hardy means tough enough to survive and thrive in difficult conditions. Hardy plants can handle frost, drought, or poor soil without dying. Hardy animals can endure harsh winters or scarce food supplies. Hardy people can work through challenges that would wear others down.

A cactus is hardy because it thrives in the desert heat with barely any water. Arctic foxes are hardy because they survive brutal winters that would kill most creatures. When explorers trek through Antarctica or climb Mount Everest, they need to be hardy enough to handle extreme cold, thin air, and exhausting conditions.

A hardy person physically endures tough situations and faces them with determination. A hardy oak tree bends in storms but doesn't break. A hardy student keeps working on a challenging project even when it gets frustrating.

You'll often hear about “hardy perennials” in gardening, meaning flowers that come back year after year despite winter's freezes. That's the essence of hardy: the ability to survive hard times and come back strong.