featherweight

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noun feath·er·weight \ˈfe-thər-ˌwāt\

Definition of featherweight

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 2

featherweight

adjective

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Recent Examples of featherweight from the Web

A meeting of top-five featherweights and a crossroads bantamweight fight have been added to the UFC 214 card in Anaheim that is headlined by Daniel Cormier’s anticipated light-heavyweight title rematch against Jon Jones.

— lance pugmire, latimes.com, "Ricardo Lamas-'Korean Zombie,' and Aljamain Sterling-Renan Barao fights added to Anaheim's UFC 214", 24 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'featherweight'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of featherweight

1812

FEATHERWEIGHT Defined for English Language Learners

featherweight

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noun

Definition of featherweight for English Language Learners

: someone or something that weighs very little; especially : a boxer who weighs more than 118 pounds (53.5 kilograms) but less than 126 pounds (57 kilograms)