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
In another bout, former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou knocked out Philipe Lins in the first round.
—
ABC News, 20 May 2026
This also comes as shares of Samsung Electronics, a heavyweight in the Kospi, have whipsawed as investors monitored labor negotiations and potential for a strike.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Truwit has struck sponsorship pacts with such blue-chip brands as Nike, and is on the corporate speaking tour for such heavyweights as Amazon, Merck and Bank of America.
—William Earl, Variety, 19 May 2026
Tech heavyweights named The lawsuits name Amazon, Adobe, Google and its parent company Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung, as well as Facebook parent company Meta, text-to-speech AI company ElevenLabs, and advanced computer chip maker NVIDIA.
—Hannah Meisel, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Bobby Kotick Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, has also been linked to the growing network of business and entertainment heavyweights supporting Pratt’s mayoral campaign.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
The intellectual heavyweights beside her grilled her with sociological concern.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
White’s announcement came on Instagram Live just as former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was walking to the cage in MVP’s event.
—Mark Puleo, New York Times, 17 May 2026
And Gable Steveson opens the PPV in his UFC debut at heavyweight against Elisha Ellison.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 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.
ABC News, 20 May 2026
This also comes as shares of Samsung Electronics, a heavyweight in the Kospi, have whipsawed as investors monitored labor negotiations and potential for a strike.
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 20 May 2026
Truwit has struck sponsorship pacts with such blue-chip brands as Nike, and is on the corporate speaking tour for such heavyweights as Amazon, Merck and Bank of America.
—William Earl, Variety, 19 May 2026
Tech heavyweights named The lawsuits name Amazon, Adobe, Google and its parent company Alphabet, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung, as well as Facebook parent company Meta, text-to-speech AI company ElevenLabs, and advanced computer chip maker NVIDIA.
—Hannah Meisel, CBS News, 19 May 2026
Bobby Kotick Bobby Kotick, the former CEO of Activision Blizzard, has also been linked to the growing network of business and entertainment heavyweights supporting Pratt’s mayoral campaign.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
The intellectual heavyweights beside her grilled her with sociological concern.
—Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
White’s announcement came on Instagram Live just as former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou was walking to the cage in MVP’s event.
—Mark Puleo, New York Times, 17 May 2026
And Gable Steveson opens the PPV in his UFC debut at heavyweight against Elisha Ellison.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 22 May. 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
