heavyweight

Heavyweight is a term used in English to describe something or someone of substantial weight, size, or importance. As a noun, it can refer to the heaviest recognized category in a competition or to a person with considerable physical heft or influence. The word arises from the general concept of weight, with the prefix heavy- emphasizing greater mass or significance than ordinary counterparts.

In sports, heavyweight is most commonly associated with boxing. In professional boxing there is no upper weight limit; competitors weighing more than 200 pounds (90.7 kg) are classified as heavyweights, with lighter weights categorized as cruiserweight and, in many systems, a separate super heavyweight division exists for the largest athletes. In amateur or Olympic boxing, this range is defined differently: heavyweight typically covers 81–91 kg, with super heavyweight for over 91 kg. The exact boundaries can vary by sanctioning body.

In mixed martial arts, the heavyweight division is generally limited to fighters between 206 and 265 pounds (93.4–120.2 kg) in major promotions such as the UFC, though some organizations adopt minor variations. Other combat sports have similar concepts, while non-sport uses retain the metaphorical sense of “heavyweight” to describe a person or entity with outsized influence or importance.

Outside competition, heavyweight is also used metaphorically to denote substantial impact or power in politics, business, culture, or media. The term remains a common shorthand for describing individuals or forces characterized by large mass, presence, or significance.