overweight

[oh-ver-weyt, oh-ver-weyt, oh-ver-weyt]

adjective

1. weighing too much or more than is considered normal, proper, etc..

   overweight luggage; an overweight patient; two letters that may be overweight.

noun

1. extra or excess weight above what law or regulation allows, as of baggage or freight.

   The overweight will cost us $12.

2. weight in excess of that considered normal, proper, healthful, etc..

   Overweight in a child should not be neglected.

3. greater effect or importance; preponderance.

verb (used with object)

1. to weight excessively; exceed the weight limit of.

2. to give too much consideration or emphasis to; stress unduly.

overweight

adjective

1. weighing more than is usual, allowed, or healthy

2. finance

   1. having a higher proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest: portfolio managers are currently overweight in bonds

   2. (of a fund etc) invested disproportionately in this way

noun

1. extra or excess weight

2. archaic,  greater importance or effect

verb

1. to give too much emphasis or consideration to

2. to add too much weight to

3. to weigh down

Word History and Origins

Origin of overweight¹

First recorded in 1545–55; over- + weight

Example Sentences

Investors should maintain a neutral stance on stocks, an overweight on government bonds and underweight on credit and cash holdings.

Read more on MarketWatch

And obesity rates in children and adults show no signs of going down either, with nearly two-thirds of people in the UK overweight or obese.

Read more on BBC

Novo’s Wegovy is already approved for people with obesity or are overweight, in addition to helping those patients lower the risk of stroke, heart attack and death.

Read more on MarketWatch

In France, one in two adults is overweight or obese, and globally the number reaches two and a half billion people.

Read more on Science Daily

More than 3.7 million people died from illnesses related to obesity or being overweight globally in 2021 -- more than malaria, tuberculosis and HIV combined, according to the World Health Organization.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• corpulent 
• obese 
• pudgy