Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of little weight; not heavy: Weighing relatively little compared to something else of a similar type or purpose.
   • Of little importance, seriousness, or influence: Lacking depth, substance, or intellectual or political weight.

2. Noun:

   • A person or thing of little weight, importance, or influence: Someone or something considered insignificant or lacking substance.
   • A weight class in combat sports: A category for competitors who fall within a specified upper weight limit, such as in boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts.
   • A boxer or wrestler in the lightweight class: An athlete who competes in the lightweight division.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • She packed a lightweight jacket for the summer evening. (Describing an object of little weight.)
  • The newspaper was criticized for its lightweight coverage of the economic crisis. (Describing something lacking seriousness or depth.)
• Noun:
  • In political debates, he was often dismissed as a lightweight. (Referring to a person of little influence.)
  • He won the championship as a lightweight before moving up a division. (Referring to a boxer in a specific weight class.)

Advanced Usage

• "lightweight contender": A competitor in the lightweight division who is challenging for a title.
  • The champion will face a new lightweight contender next month.
• Used figuratively to describe technology or software: Requiring few system resources.
  • This text editor is a lightweight application that runs quickly on older computers.

Variants and Related Words

• Lightly (adverb): In a light manner.
  • She tread lightly on the floor.
• Lightness (noun): The quality or state of being light.
  • The lightness of the material makes it ideal for travel.

Synonyms

• Adjective (weight): insubstantial, featherweight, flimsy.
• Adjective (importance): insignificant, trivial, superficial.
• Noun (person): nonentity, mediocrity.

Antonyms

• Adjective (weight): heavy, heavyweight, substantial.
• Adjective (importance): heavyweight, serious, influential, profound.
• Noun (person): heavyweight, heavyweight, major figure.

Related Phrases

• Political lightweight: A politician perceived as lacking experience, gravitas, or influence.
  • Despite his family name, many considered him a political lightweight.
• Intellectual lightweight: A person considered to lack intellectual depth or seriousness.
  • The author was unfairly labeled an intellectual lightweight by some critics.

Adjective

1. having no importance or influence
   • a lightweight intellect
2. weighing relatively little compared with another item or object of similar use
   • a lightweight fabric
   • lightweight wood

Noun

1. a wrestler who weighs 139-154 pounds
2. an amateur boxer who weighs no more than 132 pounds
3. someone who is unimportant but cheeky and presumptuous
4. a professional boxer who weighs between 131 and 135 pounds