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.

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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

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Other Word Forms

• weightlessly
  adverb
• weightlessness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of weightless

First recorded in 1540–50; weight + -less

Example Sentences

Ariel Ekblaw, CEO of the Aurelia Institute, spoke about how self-assembling structures could make orbiting research habitats a reality, unlocking scientific and medical breakthroughs that only the weightless environment of space can deliver.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

But there are no rest days for the weightless: the astronauts have 30 minutes of exercise built in to their schedules.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

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

From BBC • Mar. 19, 2025

The breathtaking menswear displays in the show “Up, Up, and Away” featured couture-like poetry: seemingly weightless textiles that billowed like parachutes or kites.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2024

The midwife intimidated her, and when intimidated my mother took on a weightless quality, whisking about every time the midwife made one of her slow, solid movements.

From "Educated" by Tara Westover

Related Words

• ethereal
• inconsequential
• trivial