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
The program matured from a half-hour broadcast to an hourlong ratings heavyweight during Tim Russert's 17 years as moderator.
—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
The result dashed hopes of a team touted as dark horses who could make a long run in the tournament by beating traditional soccer heavyweights such as Brazil.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
His World's Best Bourbon title actually came at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out Kentucky's heavyweights.
—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
For more than three years – from ages 25 to 28 – the finest heavyweight of his generation was not permitted to fight.
—
Iqbal Akhtar,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
Cape Verde earned a shocking draw with heavyweight Spain at Atlanta Stadium.
—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
29 June 2026
That’s thanks to the company — he was sandwiched between two comic heavyweights.
—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
And despite going into this tournament unfancied, the European heavyweight won its first two matches of the competition.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
The country is looking to join continental heavyweights such as DR Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe in the mineral extraction sector.
—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
29 June 2026
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Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
1 July 2026
The result dashed hopes of a team touted as dark horses who could make a long run in the tournament by beating traditional soccer heavyweights such as Brazil.
—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
30 June 2026
His World's Best Bourbon title actually came at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, beating out Kentucky's heavyweights.
—
Chris Perugini,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
For more than three years – from ages 25 to 28 – the finest heavyweight of his generation was not permitted to fight.
—
Iqbal Akhtar,
The Conversation,
30 June 2026
Cape Verde earned a shocking draw with heavyweight Spain at Atlanta Stadium.
—
Michael Cunningham,
AJC.com,
29 June 2026
That’s thanks to the company — he was sandwiched between two comic heavyweights.
—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
29 June 2026
And despite going into this tournament unfancied, the European heavyweight won its first two matches of the competition.
—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
29 June 2026
The country is looking to join continental heavyweights such as DR Congo, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe in the mineral extraction sector.
—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
29 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 1 Jul. 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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