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
By his fourth season in the NBA, the Suns had established themselves as heavyweights in the West.
—
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Investors are showing heightened demand for high-quality paper from tech heavyweights that are leading the charge in artificial intelligence, one source said.
—Seema Mody, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
But Abridge is contending with heavyweights on every side.
—Brittany Trang, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
In a match between the heavyweights Jarrell Miller and Kingsley Ibeh, an uppercut from Ibeh caused Miller’s hairpiece to flap back like the lid on a box.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Rucci added that most of the brand’s jeans are made with 100 percent cotton heavyweight denim—built to last—which very much resonates with consumers’ growing awareness for durability and quality.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Take Danielle Deadwyler, known as a dramatic heavyweight in award-winning projects like Till and The Piano Lesson, who gets to show off her goofier side here as Dylan, a poetry professor who becomes a wary confidante of Greg’s — and often steals the show.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
The statue of late heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier in Philadelphia could be on the move.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Lindsey Horvath will not run for Los Angeles mayor, becoming the latest political heavyweight to decide against a challenge to incumbent Karen Bass.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
Investors are showing heightened demand for high-quality paper from tech heavyweights that are leading the charge in artificial intelligence, one source said.
—Seema Mody, CNBC, 10 Feb. 2026
But Abridge is contending with heavyweights on every side.
—Brittany Trang, STAT, 10 Feb. 2026
In a match between the heavyweights Jarrell Miller and Kingsley Ibeh, an uppercut from Ibeh caused Miller’s hairpiece to flap back like the lid on a box.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Rucci added that most of the brand’s jeans are made with 100 percent cotton heavyweight denim—built to last—which very much resonates with consumers’ growing awareness for durability and quality.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 9 Feb. 2026
Take Danielle Deadwyler, known as a dramatic heavyweight in award-winning projects like Till and The Piano Lesson, who gets to show off her goofier side here as Dylan, a poetry professor who becomes a wary confidante of Greg’s — and often steals the show.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
The statue of late heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier in Philadelphia could be on the move.
—Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
Lindsey Horvath will not run for Los Angeles mayor, becoming the latest political heavyweight to decide against a challenge to incumbent Karen Bass.
—David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 13 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
