Lightweight: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe objects or materials that are not heavy and are easy to carry. Often used in contexts related to sports and materials.

• This jacket is really lightweight, perfect for hiking.
• He is a lightweight champion in boxing.

A general term used to describe something that is not heavy. Can be applied to objects, food, or even abstract concepts like mood or conversation.

• I packed a light lunch for the picnic.
• Please keep the decorations light and simple.

Describes the thickness or width of objects. Often used for materials, clothing, and sometimes for people (though this can have negative connotations).

• She wore a thin scarf around her neck.
• The ice on the lake is very thin and dangerous.

Describes something that is light and spacious, often used for places or interior designs. Can also describe something that gives a sense of being light and not too serious.

• The new office is very airy with lots of natural light.
• Her dress is made of airy fabric, ideal for summer.

Typically used in sports, especially boxing, to describe a weight category. Can also describe objects that are extremely light, often with an emphasis on being almost weightless. Has a more emphasized meaning than 'lightweight'.

• He competes in the featherweight division.
• These featherweight running shoes feel like you are running barefoot.

Used in a variety of contexts to indicate something or someone that is less heavy than usual or requires minimal effort. Often used in sports, particularly boxing and mixed martial arts, to describe a weight class. Can also describe objects and metaphorically indicate a lack of importance or difficulty.

• The newly designed laptop is incredibly lightweight.
• He competes in the lightweight division in boxing.
• The book was a lightweight read, perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Primarily used in sports, especially in boxing and mixed martial arts, to refer to a specific weight class that's slightly lighter than lightweight. It can also metaphorically describe something very light or insubstantial.

• He is the reigning featherweight champion of the world.
• The new material is featherweight, making it ideal for travel bags.

Commonly used in boxing and mixed martial arts, this term describes a weight class that is heavier than lightweight and featherweight but lighter than middleweight. It is rarely used in everyday conversation outside of sports contexts.

• He has dreamt of becoming a welterweight champion since he was a child.
• The athlete recently moved up to the welterweight division.

A term mostly used in combat sports like boxing and mixed martial arts to describe a weight class that is heavier than lightweight and welterweight but lighter than heavyweight. Metaphorically, it can describe someone or something that's in the middle range of ability, importance, or capacity.

• The middleweight competition was intense this year.
• She is considered a middleweight in the corporate world.