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
Though the subject of who moves on may already be decided when Türkiye and the United States square off, these are the two heavyweights of Group D and should make for an exciting conclusion to group play.
—
Austin Perry, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Corporate heavyweights like Visa and Stripe have also built out tools and protocols in anticipation of a future where bots will buy our groceries, manage our bank accounts, and pay for our video streaming subscriptions.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Four Seasons is one of several hospitality heavyweights, including Ritz-Carlton, Belmond, Aman, and Orient Express, hoping to offer more personalized experiences at sea with vessels that are closer to superyachts than traditional cruise ships.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 June 2026
This comes after Huang met with heavyweights of South Korea's tech industry during his visit, which also included a traditional Korean barbeque dinner with leaders of SK Group, LG Group and Naver, a ceremonial baseball pitch and even an appearance on one of South Korea's most popular variety shows.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 June 2026
There's some theater royalty (Bernadette Peters, Brian Stokes Mitchell), a selection of stars coming to the boards next season (Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lily Rabe) and Hollywood heavyweights, like Annette Bening and Paul Rudd.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
The 2026 gubernatorial primary has been one of the most unpredictable and expensive in decades and a race that was shaped early on by a number of heavyweight Democrats staying on the sidelines.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Prior to the quarterfinal bout, Milton (14-6) entered as a dark horse in the tournament, having knocked off a series of perennial heavyweights this spring.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Spread across 12 acres and designed in a Spanish Colonial style, this residential hideaway attracts discreet Angelenos, international travelers seeking old Hollywood charm, and industry heavyweights who prioritize privacy above all else.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
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Austin Perry, FOXNews.com, 10 June 2026
Corporate heavyweights like Visa and Stripe have also built out tools and protocols in anticipation of a future where bots will buy our groceries, manage our bank accounts, and pay for our video streaming subscriptions.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 10 June 2026
Four Seasons is one of several hospitality heavyweights, including Ritz-Carlton, Belmond, Aman, and Orient Express, hoping to offer more personalized experiences at sea with vessels that are closer to superyachts than traditional cruise ships.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 June 2026
This comes after Huang met with heavyweights of South Korea's tech industry during his visit, which also included a traditional Korean barbeque dinner with leaders of SK Group, LG Group and Naver, a ceremonial baseball pitch and even an appearance on one of South Korea's most popular variety shows.
—Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 June 2026
There's some theater royalty (Bernadette Peters, Brian Stokes Mitchell), a selection of stars coming to the boards next season (Billy Crystal, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lily Rabe) and Hollywood heavyweights, like Annette Bening and Paul Rudd.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026
The 2026 gubernatorial primary has been one of the most unpredictable and expensive in decades and a race that was shaped early on by a number of heavyweight Democrats staying on the sidelines.
—Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Prior to the quarterfinal bout, Milton (14-6) entered as a dark horse in the tournament, having knocked off a series of perennial heavyweights this spring.
—Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Spread across 12 acres and designed in a Spanish Colonial style, this residential hideaway attracts discreet Angelenos, international travelers seeking old Hollywood charm, and industry heavyweights who prioritize privacy above all else.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Heavyweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heavyweight. Accessed 17 Jun. 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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