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makeweight

American  
[meyk-weyt] / ˈmeɪkˌweɪt /

noun

  1. something put in a scale to complete a required weight.

  2. anything added to supply a lack.


makeweight British  
/ ˈmeɪkˌweɪt /

noun

  1. something put on a scale to make up a required weight

  2. an unimportant person or thing added to make up a lack

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of makeweight

First recorded in 1685–95; make 1 + weight

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Disrespected and disregarded, jeered by fans and dismissed by managers, he was eventually used as a makeweight in a player exchange with second-tier Sao Paulo side Mogi Mirim.

From BBC Dec. 20, 2021

As Manchester City launched its ultimately unsuccessful attempts to sign a marquee striker during the transfer window, one player was regularly touted as a makeweight in negotiations.

From Seattle Times Sep. 14, 2021

For many readers they’re makeweight puffery, eminently skippable, a lot of throat-clearing and flapdoodle.

From Los Angeles Times Feb. 11, 2019

The Red Devils are also considering offering Japan playmaker Shinji Kagawa, 25, or Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, 26, as a makeweight in a deal for Juventus midfielder Arturo Vidal, 27.

From BBC Aug. 27, 2014

I have no sword; and if I had, in this case, most certainly, I would not use it as a makeweight in political reasoning.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 04 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund

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