middleweight

noun

mid·​dle·​weight ˈmi-dᵊl-ˌwāt How to pronounce middleweight (audio)
: one of average weight
specifically : a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 160 pounds for professionals and 165 pounds for amateurs compare light heavyweight, welterweight

Examples of middleweight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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But perhaps the biggest news is the addition of a brand-new naked middleweight called the 675NK. New Atlas, 12 Sep. 2025 Crawford’s last fight was as a light middleweight, meaning the American will be stepping up two weight classes to fight the Mexican. Ben Morse, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025 Gastelum has missed weight on several occasions in the past, both at welterweight and middleweight. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 The North Carolina native was set to fight at middleweight against Ruziboev but tipped the scales at 190 pounds—four pounds over the non-title limit—forcing the fight to be canceled. Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for middleweight

Word History

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of middleweight was in 1847

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Cite this Entry

“Middleweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/middleweight. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

middleweight

noun
mid·​dle·​weight ˈmid-ᵊl-ˌwāt How to pronounce middleweight (audio)
: one of average weight
especially : a boxer in a weight division having an upper limit of about 160 pounds

More from Merriam-Webster on middleweight

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