heavyweight

noun

heavy·​weight ˈhe-vē-ˌwāt How to pronounce heavyweight (audio)
Synonyms of heavyweightnext
often attributive
1
: one that is above average in weight
2
: one in the usually heaviest class of contestants: such as
a
: a boxer in an unlimited weight division compare light heavyweight
b
: a weight lifter weighing more than 198 pounds
3
: one that possesses great power, prominence, or stature
industry heavyweights

Synonyms of heavyweight

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Examples of heavyweight in a Sentence

Their company is one of the industry's heavyweights. a heavyweight in the U.S. Senate, he has a lot of clout in judicial confirmations
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Last month, following his viral comments on CNBC that sparked a wider debate, Karp and Palantir joined tech heavyweights in a letter urging the government not to restrict open-weight models. — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026 The upbeat results lifted global tech stocks, including major gains for Asian heavyweights. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 31 July 2026 The case split Democratic Party heavyweights, with Tapp-Harper garnering the support of Mayor Brandon Scott. — Mike Hellgren, CBS News, 30 July 2026 The smallest federations collectively possess far greater electoral power than Europe’s traditional heavyweights. — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for heavyweight

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of heavyweight was in 1857

Phrases Containing heavyweight

Rhymes for heavyweight

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Browse Nearby Words

heavy weather
heavyweight
heavy with
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Cite this Entry

“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

heavyweight

noun
heavy·​weight ˈhev-ē-ˌwāt How to pronounce heavyweight (audio)
1
: one above average in weight
2
: one in the heaviest class of contestants
especially : a boxer in an unlimited weight division
3
: someone or something that is very important or powerful
a company that is an industry heavyweight

More from Merriam-Webster on heavyweight

Nglish: Translation of heavyweight for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heavyweight

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