Leichtgewichts

Leichtgewichts is the genitive singular form of the German noun Leichtgewicht, which translates as "lightweight" or "the lightweight." The base term Leichtgewicht denotes something of lower weight relative to a standard, or a person in a lighter weight class. The genitive des Leichtgewichts is used in formal or technical writing to indicate belonging or relation to the lightweight category, for example: die Vorteile des Leichtgewichts in der Fahrzeugtechnik.

In sports, Leichtgewicht (plural Leichtgewichte) designates a weight class in various disciplines such as boxing, judo, wrestling, taekwondo and weightlifting. The exact upper limits vary by sport and federation. In German-language reporting, athletes in this class are described as Leichtgewichte, distinguishing them from heavier categories like Halbschwergewicht or Schwergewicht.

Beyond athletics, Leichtgewicht is widely used in marketing and engineering to describe items designed to be light in weight, such as Leichtgewichtmaterialien, Leichtgewichtskomponenten oder leichtgewichtige Bauweisen. The related adjective leichtgewichtig (often written as a single word) describes the property of being light in weight, as in leichtgewichtiges Fahrzeug or leichtgewichtiges System.

Etymology: Leichtgewicht is formed from Leicht (light) and Gewicht (weight). The term has cognates across languages and is connected to concepts like Leichtbau, which focuses on reducing weight in engineering.

See also: Leichtgewicht, Leichtgewichte, Gewichtsklasse, Leichtbau, Lightweight (English).