dead weight

American  

Or deadweight

noun

1. the heavy, unrelieved weight of anything inert.

   The dead weight of the bear's body was over 300 pounds.

2. a heavy or oppressive burden or responsibility.

3. the weight of a railroad car, truck, etc., as distinct from its load or contents.

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dead weight British  

noun

1. a heavy weight or load

2. an oppressive burden; encumbrance

3. the difference between the loaded and the unloaded weights of a ship

4. another name for dead load

5. (in shipping) freight chargeable by weight rather than by bulk

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dead weight Idioms  

1. A heavy or oppressive burden, as in That police record will be a dead weight on his career. This term alludes to the unrelieved weight of an inert mass. [Early 1700s]

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Etymology

Origin of dead weight

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

The factory sector no longer looks like dead weight.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 6, 2026

That’s because when he was in contact with the rock his legs were worse than dead weight.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024

Misguided, opinionated labor is dead weight; the high-up leaders know best, which is why they’ve earned the positions they have to begin with.

From Slate • Sep. 14, 2023

But there’s no reason why the Wild won’t again push for a deep run in the playoffs, despite the dead weight from the buyouts of former franchise players Zach Parise and Ryan Suter.

From Seattle Times • May 17, 2022

Bran used the bars sunk into the wall to support as he swung the dead weight of his legs into the basket and through the holes.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• barrier
• bottleneck
• burden
• defect
• deterrent
• difficulty
• disadvantage
• drawback
• flaw
• handicap
• hazard
• hitch
• hurdle
• inhibition
• obstacle
• red tape
• restriction
• setback
• snag
• stumbling block