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

Itauma had become a shell of the heavyweight who’d answered the opening bell with such vim and vigour. — Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026

How would Leading Change be able to knock heads against the heavyweights of the division at a mile and a quarter distance? — Danny Brewer, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

His brother Karol was a top light-heavyweight prospect but had to retire after a heart attack. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026

Plough, a former UCD quarterback and offensive coach, said that in order to compete for the Big Sky crown, teams have to win their home games and topple at least one heavyweight on the road. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 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