adj
Meaning 1
Lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
lightweight
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
-
US: /laɪtˈweɪt/
-
US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
-
rhymes with (adjective) -eɪt
-
US: /ˈlaɪt.weɪt/
-
CMU ARPABET: L AY1 T W EY1 T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
adj
Meaning 2
Having less than average weight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 3
Lacking in strength.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Meaning 4
Having a small footprint or performance impact.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: computing, engineering, mathematics, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 5
A particular weight class, or member of such, as prescribed by the rules, between that of the heavier welterweight and the lighter featherweight. See Wikipedia for the specifics of each sport.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Qualifier: combat sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 6
A particular weight category as prescribed by the rules, separate from an open or heavyweight class.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, rowing, sports
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 7
A competitive weight division as prescribed by the rules, between the heavier middleweight and the lighter featherweight.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: hobbies, lifestyle, sports, weightlifting
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
One of little consequence or ability.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 9
A person who cannot handle their drink; one who gets drunk on very little alcohol.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 10
A person with low endurance.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 11
A political candidate with little chance of winning.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 12
Something that is light in weight, or relatively so.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 13
To reduce the amount or weight of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 14
weighing relatively little compared with another item or object of similar use
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a lightweight fabric
- lightweight wood
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
adjective satellite
Meaning 15
having no importance or influence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- a lightweight intellect
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 16
a professional boxer who weighs between 131 and 135 pounds
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: prizefighter, gladiator
noun
Meaning 17
a wrestler who weighs 139-154 pounds
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: wrestler, grappler, matman
noun
Meaning 18
an amateur boxer who weighs no more than 132 pounds
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: boxer, pugilist
noun
Meaning 19
someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: whippersnapper, jackanapes
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cipher, cypher, nobody, nonentity
History
Etymology
From light (“not heavy”, adjective) + weight (noun).
Across languages
Translations
47 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: köykäinen — lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity
- Finnish: pinnallinen — lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity
- German: seicht — lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity
- German: dünnbrettbohrerisch — lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity
- Greek: ελαφρός (elafrós) — lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity
- Polish: mierny — lacking in earnestness, ability, or profundity
- Dutch: lichtgewicht — having less than average weight
- Finnish: kevyt — having less than average weight
- Finnish: kevytrakenteinen — having less than average weight
- Finnish: köykäinen — having less than average weight
- French: léger — having less than average weight
- German: leichtgewichtig — having less than average weight
- Greek: ελαφρύς (elafrýs) — having less than average weight
- Greek: ελαφρός (elafrós) — having less than average weight
- Polish: lekki — having less than average weight
- Portuguese: leve — having less than average weight
- Romanian: ușor (subponderal) — having less than average weight
- German: schwach — lacking in strength
- German: leistungsarm — lacking in strength
- German: abgespeckt — having a small footprint or performance impact
- Afrikaans: liggewig — boxer
- Bulgarian: лека категория (leka kategorija) — boxer
- Danish: letvægt — boxer
- Finnish: kevytsarjalainen — boxer
- French: poids léger — boxer
- Galician: peso lixeiro — boxer
- German: Leichtgewicht — boxer
- German: Leichtgewichtler — boxer
- Hungarian: könnyűsúlyú ökölvívó — boxer
- Hungarian: könnyűsúly — boxer
- Norwegian: lettvekt — boxer
- Portuguese: peso-leve — boxer
- Romanian: categorie ușoară — boxer
- Spanish: peso ligero — boxer
- Swedish: lättvikt — boxer
- Tagalog: magaantimbang — boxer
- Afrikaans: liggewig — bodybuilding: competitive weight division between bantamweight and welterweight
- Finnish: kevytsarja — bodybuilding: competitive weight division between bantamweight and welterweight
- Afrikaans: liggewig — one of little consequence or ability
- Bulgarian: несериозен (neseriozen) — one of little consequence or ability
- Bulgarian: повърхностен (povǎrhnosten) — one of little consequence or ability
- Finnish: kevytsarjalainen — one of little consequence or ability
- German: Dünnbrettbohrer — one of little consequence or ability
- Hungarian: jelentéktelen ember — one of little consequence or ability
- Hungarian: nulla — one of little consequence or ability
- Finnish: juoppo — person who can't handle their drink
- Portuguese: fraco — person who can't handle their drink
Real reading context