deadweight

noun

dead·​weight ˈded-ˈwāt 

1

: the unrelieved weight of an inert mass

2

: dead load

3

: a ship's load including the total weight of cargo, fuel, stores, crew, and passengers

Examples of deadweight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By upgrading synthetic skin from a passive sensor into an energy harvester, the Fudan team offers a clever alternative to deadweight batteries. — New Atlas, 8 Oct. 2026

QuantCube’s indicator measures the volume of deadweight tonnage leaving Iraqi and UAE ports, which provides an estimate of the cargo weight the ships are carrying. — Joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 9 June 2026

As if moving his muscular deadweight weren’t a task itself for the two girls, there’s a point where Jinx falls onto Margo and pins her underwater in the tub. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 13 May 2026

By integrating turbine and ramjet technologies, a concept dating back to the end of World War II, the scientists removed the inactive deadweight and simplified the model. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing deadweight

• deadweight ton

Rhymes for deadweight

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

deadweight

noun

dead·​weight ˈded-ˈwāt 

: the full weight of a mass that is not moving