lightweight

American  

[lahyt-wayt] / 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).

---

noun

• lightweights
  plural

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

---

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

Derived Forms

• ultralightweight
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lightweights
  plural

---

Etymology

Origin of lightweight

First recorded in 1765–75; light ² + weight

---

Explanation

When an object is lightweight, it weighs much less than other similar objects. A person is a lightweight if they can't handle much — if you get full after a small meal, big eaters might refer to you as a lightweight. Break lightweight apart — light + weight — and you see its definition right there in its root words. Someone who is called a lightweight is either a professional boxer who weighs under 135 pounds or he's someone with little importance or ability. When a company is looking to make layoffs, it's the lightweight employees, or those who just aren't important to the business that often get axed first.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lightweight lightweights

To keep the Duo thin and lightweight, Apple made modest hardware compromises on its camera array.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

The prime minister is due to tell Zelensky that Britain will quicken the delivery of British lightweight multirole missiles, which Ukraine has used against Russian jet-powered drones.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Specifically, the prime minister would pledge to speed up the delivery of lightweight multirole missiles that can help bring down fast jet-powered Russian drones.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

In cross-country, I was lightweight, which won me a spot on the varsity team as a freshman.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

“Curley’s pretty handy. He done quite a bit in the ring. He’s a lightweight, and he’s handy.”

From "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck

The audience might forget those things, but it will remember how silly the suits looked as they struggled to deal with perceived lightweights who had organized against them.

From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2023

The two lightweights aren’t even fighting for a title or a fringe belt — making it a true grudge match.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 20, 2023

I’m a high school speech and debate alumni too, though I competed in public forum debate — an event that I’ve been told is for the intellectual lightweights of the speech and debate community.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2022

Donovan’s offense rarely utilized backs in the passing game, while Lake philosophically advocated for bulkier backs — joking that “they don’t let heavyweight fighters fight lightweights for a reason: the heavyweight fighter’s going to win.”

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 30, 2022

"We're lightweights," Mabel tried to joke, but her voice was thick with regret.

From "We Are Okay" by Nina LaCour

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---