lightweight

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlaɪt.weɪt/ UK /ˈlaɪt.weɪt/ See IPA manual

Freq #17070

Meanings

1

adj
weighing less than average or less than comparable objects of the same kind

Engineers chose a lightweight alloy to reduce the aircraft's fuel use.
2

adj
lacking seriousness, depth, importance, or influence

The editor rejected the article as a lightweight treatment of a complex issue.
3

noun
a competitor in a relatively light weight class, especially the boxing division between featherweight and welterweight

The boxer won the national title as a lightweight before moving to a heavier division.
4

noun
a person or thing regarded as having little importance, ability, or endurance

His opponents dismissed him as a political lightweight, but he won the election.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · weighing less than average... lightlow-weightportable

2 adj · lacking seriousness, depth,... superficial inconsequential slight

3 noun · a competitor in a... lightweight competitor

4 noun · a person or thing regarded... minor figurenonentity

Opposites

heavy heavyweight substantial influential

Word family

Derived forms lightweightnesssuperlightweightultralightweight

Related forms light weightfeatherweightwelterweightheavyweight

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

lightweight concrete
concrete made less dense by adding air spaces or lightweight materials

Adjective + noun

Etymology

A compound of light, in its "not heavy" sense, + weight. It first named a person or thing below average weight and then became a formal combat-sports class. Figurative senses transfer low weight to limited seriousness, influence, ability, or endurance.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# lightweight

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlaɪt.weɪt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlaɪt.weɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 17070

## Meanings
1. weighing less than average or less than comparable objects of the same kind
2. lacking seriousness, depth, importance, or influence
3. a competitor in a relatively light weight class, especially the boxing division between featherweight and welterweight
4. a person or thing regarded as having little importance, ability, or endurance

## Examples
- Engineers chose a lightweight alloy to reduce the aircraft's fuel use.
- The editor rejected the article as a lightweight treatment of a complex issue.
- The boxer won the national title as a lightweight before moving to a heavier division.
- His opponents dismissed him as a political lightweight, but he won the election.

## Synonyms
- light
- low-weight
- portable
- superficial
- inconsequential
- minor figure
- nonentity

## Antonyms
- heavy
- heavyweight
- substantial
- influential

## Derived Forms
- lightweightness
- superlightweight
- ultralightweight

## Related Forms
- light
- weight
- featherweight
- welterweight
- heavyweight

## Etymology
A compound of light, in its "not heavy" sense, + weight. It first named a person or thing below average weight and then became a formal combat-sports class. Figurative senses transfer low weight to limited seriousness, influence, ability, or endurance.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

markdown