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

Synonyms of heavyweight

• heavy
• big

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

Sports stars, celebrities and business heavyweights could enter from an interior loading dock area to a blue carpet backstage, allowing access into the club without having to navigate the crowds. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

Rob Lowe had plenty of competition for blockbuster roles in the 1980s and ’90s – and one Hollywood heavyweight repeatedly stood in his way. — Lauryn Overhultz, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026

The expectation for this season was that Michigan would be competitive against every team on the schedule, including Big Ten heavyweights Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026

The game was a matchup of two traditional Italian heavyweights that failed to qualify for the Champions League. — ABC News, 6 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing heavyweight

• light heavyweight

Rhymes for heavyweight

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

Kids 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