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
Ne-Yo, who has been collaborating with Nashville heavyweights like Luke Laird, Rhett Akins, and Charles Kelley of Lady A, has been slowly releasing some of the music he’s recorded in Nashville.
—
Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
The ceremony drew a roster of Hollywood heavyweights who have crossed paths with Murphy across his nearly 50-year career.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
The crowd — filled with a who’s who of comedy heavyweights, studio heads, Oscar winners, filmmakers, actors and fans — laughed at the quip.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
But a growing number of Hollywood heavyweights have continued to raise concerns over the ramifications of the deal for the industry at large.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
The 52-year-old heavyweight was refused bail on Wednesday after being taken into custody the previous evening, according to a local report cited by ESPN.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
The movie was made even stranger by then-Hollywood heavyweights like Jackie Chan, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert Evans playing heightened versions of themselves — not to mention an unsettling performance by Harvey Weinstein as a private detective that has, to put it mildly, not aged well.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
With former champion Alex Pereira vacating the belt to move up and challenge for the interim heavyweight crown at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Ulberg (14-1-0) earned his spot across Prochazka (32-5-1) in the main event of Saturday’s card.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Cooking for heavyweights such as Joseph Parker, who introduced him to Fury, is one challenge, but helping American former world welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, who had to battle to make 147lbs, was a different project.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
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Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2026
The ceremony drew a roster of Hollywood heavyweights who have crossed paths with Murphy across his nearly 50-year career.
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2026
The crowd — filled with a who’s who of comedy heavyweights, studio heads, Oscar winners, filmmakers, actors and fans — laughed at the quip.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 19 Apr. 2026
But a growing number of Hollywood heavyweights have continued to raise concerns over the ramifications of the deal for the industry at large.
—Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 16 Apr. 2026
The 52-year-old heavyweight was refused bail on Wednesday after being taken into custody the previous evening, according to a local report cited by ESPN.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 15 Apr. 2026
The movie was made even stranger by then-Hollywood heavyweights like Jackie Chan, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robert Evans playing heightened versions of themselves — not to mention an unsettling performance by Harvey Weinstein as a private detective that has, to put it mildly, not aged well.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
With former champion Alex Pereira vacating the belt to move up and challenge for the interim heavyweight crown at UFC Freedom 250 at the White House, Ulberg (14-1-0) earned his spot across Prochazka (32-5-1) in the main event of Saturday’s card.
—ABC News, 11 Apr. 2026
Cooking for heavyweights such as Joseph Parker, who introduced him to Fury, is one challenge, but helping American former world welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr, who had to battle to make 147lbs, was a different project.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 23 Apr. 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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