featherweight

noun

feath·​er·​weight ˈfe-t͟hər-ˌwāt 

1

: one that is very light in weight

especially : a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 126 pounds for professionals and 125 pounds for amateurs compare bantamweight, lightweight

2

: lightweight sense 2

featherweight adjective

Examples of featherweight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Holloway is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC featherweight rankings. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025

In July 2023, Inoue moved up to junior featherweight, claiming the WBC and WBO belts in his first fight in his new weight division. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025

The 145-pound scrap will crown the next UFC featherweight champion. —Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Take Bryce Mitchell, for instance, a 30-year-old UFC featherweight star from Arkansas. —Donie O'Sullivan, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1812, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for featherweight

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• adsorbate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate

Kids Definition

featherweight

noun

feath·​er·​weight -ˌwāt 

1

: a very light weight

2

: one that weighs little

especially : a boxer in a weight division having an upper limit of about 126 pounds