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
Ceremonial looks channel national heritage through the lens of major designers and iconic brands—Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani, and Moncler—while performance gear from heavyweights like Adidas and Lululemon has been engineered for the challenges of ice, altitude, and speed.
—
Christina Pérez, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
The heavyweight was facing Kingsley Ibeh on Saturday night when Ibeh landed a flurry of shots in the second round that caused a roar from the crowd, despite not looking particularly hard.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Ditto the American pair Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, creating a heavyweight feel at the top of the sport.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The new year’s first heavyweight opening arrived with Tacos Los Cholos in Santa Ana.
—Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Like a bear hide, these heavyweight AS Colour hoodies are oversized for a relaxed fit.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Jan. 2026
In 1907, it was redesigned as a bank in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo by McKim, Mead & White, the architects who put their stamp on New York heavyweights like the Brooklyn Museum and the original Penn Station.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
By April 2025, Gates and Kianni pivoted to build an iOS app, and brought on heavyweights like Kleiner Perkins and Michael Rubin, among others.
—Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday evening, The Information reported that OpenAI is seeking a fresh $60 billion in funding from heavyweights like Nvidia and Amazon.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Christina Pérez, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2026
The heavyweight was facing Kingsley Ibeh on Saturday night when Ibeh landed a flurry of shots in the second round that caused a roar from the crowd, despite not looking particularly hard.
—Isabel Yip, NBC news, 1 Feb. 2026
Ditto the American pair Amanda Anisimova and Jessica Pegula, creating a heavyweight feel at the top of the sport.
—Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The new year’s first heavyweight opening arrived with Tacos Los Cholos in Santa Ana.
—Carolyn Burt, Oc Register, 31 Jan. 2026
Like a bear hide, these heavyweight AS Colour hoodies are oversized for a relaxed fit.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Jan. 2026
In 1907, it was redesigned as a bank in the style of an Italian Renaissance palazzo by McKim, Mead & White, the architects who put their stamp on New York heavyweights like the Brooklyn Museum and the original Penn Station.
—Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
By April 2025, Gates and Kianni pivoted to build an iOS app, and brought on heavyweights like Kleiner Perkins and Michael Rubin, among others.
—Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
On Wednesday evening, The Information reported that OpenAI is seeking a fresh $60 billion in funding from heavyweights like Nvidia and Amazon.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 6 Feb. 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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