# lightweight

/ˈɫaɪtˈweɪt/ (US) · /lˈaɪtweɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lightweight
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. combat sports

noun · CEFR B2

a person who competes in a specific weight class, usually between featherweight and welterweight.

For teachers: a professional weight division in sports such as boxing, wrestling, and MMA, typically falling between featherweight and welterweight.

- The lightweight won the championship after a very fast and exciting fight.
- The lightweight division remains one of the most competitive in the sport, requiring a perfect balance of speed and punching power.

Usage: Often used as a modifier before another noun, like 'lightweight champion'.

### 2. unimportant person

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

someone who is not important or does not have much influence or ability.

For teachers: a person of little importance, influence, or intellectual depth.

- The other politicians ignored him because they thought he was a lightweight.
- Despite his family connections, he was regarded as a political lightweight who lacked the gravitas to lead the party.

Teaching tip: This is the metaphorical opposite of a 'heavyweight' in a professional or intellectual context.

### 3. alcohol tolerance

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person who gets drunk very quickly after only a small amount of alcohol.

For teachers: an individual with a low physiological tolerance for alcohol.

- I am such a lightweight that I feel dizzy after just one glass of wine.
- He earned a reputation as a lightweight among his colleagues after falling asleep at the first office happy hour.

Teaching tip: This is a very common informal usage in social settings, often used in a lighthearted or self-deprecating way.

### 4. not heavy

adjective · CEFR B2

made of thin or light material; not weighing very much.

For teachers: having relatively little weight; specifically designed to be portable or easy to move.

- You should bring a lightweight jacket because it might get cool in the evening.
- The hikers preferred lightweight carbon-fiber poles to reduce the strain on their joints during the long ascent.

### 5. computing

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

software that is small, fast, and does not use much of a computer's power.

For teachers: referring to software or protocols designed to have a small footprint and minimal impact on system resources.

- I use a lightweight browser because my old laptop cannot run the heavy ones.
- The developers opted for a lightweight framework to ensure the application remained responsive even on older mobile hardware.

### 6. to make lighter

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to make something weigh less by using different materials.

For teachers: to reduce the weight of a vehicle or structure, typically to improve performance or fuel efficiency.

- The engineers had to lightweight the car to meet the new racing rules.
- By lightweighting the chassis with aluminum alloys, the manufacturer significantly improved the vehicle's power-to-weight ratio.

## Examples

- He is a political lightweight who nobody takes seriously.
- The critics dismissed the new director as a lightweight who lacked the vision to handle such a massive budget.
- Despite his family's long history in the industry, the heir proved to be a total lightweight, unable to grasp the complexities of international trade law or corporate strategy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.