heavyweight
heavyweight Lexical Profile
heavyweight Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to or denoting the heaviest weight division in boxing, wrestling, and other combat sports.
"Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the championship heavyweight bout on Saturday night."
Having great influence, importance, authority, or intellectual depth.
"The panel featured several heavyweight economists discussing global inflation trends."
Of above-average weight, thickness, or durability, especially with reference to fabric, paper, or equipment.
"She bought a heavyweight wool coat to prepare for the harsh northern winter."
• noun
A boxer, wrestler, or other combat athlete in the heaviest weight division, typically weighing over 200 pounds (90.7 kg) in professional boxing.
"The reigning heavyweight defended his title in a grueling twelve-round match."
A person, organization, or entity of great influence, authority, or importance in a particular sphere.
"The conference brought together political heavyweights from across the continent to negotiate the treaty."
A person or animal of much above average weight.
"At nearly twenty pounds, their tabby cat was a real heavyweight compared to the other pets."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-19th century as a compound of 'heavy' and 'weight', originally used in horse racing to denote a horse carrying a heavy burden before being adopted by boxing and wrestling for the highest weight division.