heavyweight
noun
heavy·weight
ˈhe-vē-ˌwāt 
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
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
Backrooms stars Renate Reinsve, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mark Duplass, Finn Bennett, Lukita Maxwell and Avan Jogia, with horror heavyweights James Wan, Shawn Levy and Osgood Perkins among the producers.
—
Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
The 2026 gubernatorial primary has been one of the most unpredictable and expensive in decades and a race that was shaped early on by a number of heavyweight Democrats staying on the sidelines.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Prior to the quarterfinal bout, Milton (14-6) entered as a dark horse in the tournament, having knocked off a series of perennial heavyweights this spring.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Spread across 12 acres and designed in a Spanish Colonial style, this residential hideaway attracts discreet Angelenos, international travelers seeking old Hollywood charm, and industry heavyweights who prioritize privacy above all else.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In 1996, a 19-year-old Israeli music student witnessed the Indian classical music heavyweights Hariprasad Chaurasia and Zakir Hussain performing in Jerusalem.
—Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Anthropic on Monday confidentially filed to go public, setting up a blockbuster market debut alongside other tech heavyweights.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Experience no longer separates these youthful heavyweights.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
For years the Rosso was treated as the baby brother of the heavyweight Sagrantino di Montefalco, a way of softening that grape's formidable tannin by blending it with Sangiovese, and sometimes a little Merlot, into something more accessible.
—Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
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Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
The 2026 gubernatorial primary has been one of the most unpredictable and expensive in decades and a race that was shaped early on by a number of heavyweight Democrats staying on the sidelines.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Prior to the quarterfinal bout, Milton (14-6) entered as a dark horse in the tournament, having knocked off a series of perennial heavyweights this spring.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Spread across 12 acres and designed in a Spanish Colonial style, this residential hideaway attracts discreet Angelenos, international travelers seeking old Hollywood charm, and industry heavyweights who prioritize privacy above all else.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
In 1996, a 19-year-old Israeli music student witnessed the Indian classical music heavyweights Hariprasad Chaurasia and Zakir Hussain performing in Jerusalem.
—Arman Khan, Pitchfork, 1 June 2026
Anthropic on Monday confidentially filed to go public, setting up a blockbuster market debut alongside other tech heavyweights.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 1 June 2026
Experience no longer separates these youthful heavyweights.
—Joel Lorenzi, New York Times, 31 May 2026
For years the Rosso was treated as the baby brother of the heavyweight Sagrantino di Montefalco, a way of softening that grape's formidable tannin by blending it with Sangiovese, and sometimes a little Merlot, into something more accessible.
—Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
heavyweight
noun
heavy·weight
ˈhev-ē-ˌwāt
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
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