weightless

American  

[weyt-lis] / ˈweɪt lɪs /

adjective

1. being without apparent weight, as a freely falling body or a body acted upon by a force that neutralizes gravitation.

---

weightless British  

/ ˈweɪtləs /

adjective

1. (of a body) having no actual weight; a state in which an object has no actual weight (because it is in space and unaffected by gravitational attraction) or no apparent weight (because the gravitational attraction equals the centripetal force and the object is in free fall)

2. commerce

   1. (of economic activity) based on the supply of information and ideas rather than trade in physical goods

      the weightless economy

   2. (of a company) having very few physical assets

      weightless dot.coms

---

Other Word Forms

• weightlessly adverb
• weightlessness noun

Etymology

Origin of weightless

First recorded in 1540–50; weight + -less

Example Sentences

The way they transformed into such airy, weightless beings while dancing, when offstage they were all earthbound muscle and sweaty concentration!

From Literature

In general, though, we learned that, as thrilling as it looked, trying to maneuver a body suddenly weightless out in space could actually be quite tiring for the person.

From Literature

Gagarin felt weightless because he and his ship were falling at the same speed.

From Literature

Muscle strength takes on a different meaning when everything is practically weightless.

From BBC

The astronauts were helped on to a stretcher, which is standard practice after spending so long in the weightless environment.

From BBC

Related Words

• ethereal
• inconsequential
• trivial