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Synonyms

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.

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

To the cuts succeed various makeweight Appendices of a didactic and hortatory character, the whole being wound up by a profitable discourse, De la Necessite de la Mort qui ne laisse riens estre pardurable.

From The Dance of Death by Dobson, Austin

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