lightweight

American  

[lahyt-weyt] / ˈlaɪtˌweɪt /

adjective

1. light in weight.

2. being lighter in weight, texture, etc., than another item or object of identical use, quality, or function: a lightweight alloy for ship construction.

   a lightweight topcoat;

   a lightweight alloy for ship construction.

3. without seriousness of purpose; trivial or trifling.

   lightweight reading.

4. of or relating to a lightweight.

   He's the new lightweight contender.

5. (of a horse, especially a hunter) able to carry up to 165 pounds (75 kilograms).

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noun

1. a person of less than average weight.

2. Informal. a person who is of little influence, importance, or effect.

3. a boxer or other contestant intermediate in weight between a featherweight, and a welterweight, especially a professional boxer weighing between 126 and 135 pounds (56.7–61 kilograms).

lightweight British  

/ ˈlaɪtˌweɪt /

adjective

1. of a relatively light weight

2. not serious; trivial

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noun

1. a person or animal of a relatively light weight

2. 1. a professional boxer weighing 130–135 pounds (59–61 kg)

   2. an amateur boxer weighing 57–60 kg (126–132 pounds)

   3. ( as modifier )

      the lightweight contender

3. a wrestler in a similar weight category (usually 115–126 pounds (52–57 kg))

4. informal a person of little importance or influence

Other Word Forms

• ultralightweight adjective

Etymology

Origin of lightweight

First recorded in 1765–75; light ² + weight

Example Sentences

But two years ago, the now WBC lightweight champion - sister to former heavyweight world champion Daniel - left the family home where she was raised.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

With long, slender legs and a lightweight frame, it likely moved quickly through vegetation, hunting small reptiles, amphibians, and early mammals.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

In their place, the Navy is relying on its littoral combat ships, lightweight, high-speed vessels designed for operations close to the shore.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

“It’s a little bit complicated when they put an image in your head and now you’re stuck with it,” he sings in “Paint by Numbers,” which pretty handily demonstrates how lightweight the introspection is here.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

That year, its research in lightweight thermonuclear bombs came together with the navy’s urgent desire for a nuclear ballistic missile that could be launched from a forthcoming class of submarines with unprecedented range.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik