Definition

A person who competes in a specific weight class in boxing or other sports, typically with a weight limit of 160 pounds (72 kilograms).

Example

The middleweight champion defended his title in a thrilling match last night.

Conversation

Did you hear about the new middleweight champion?

Yeah, I've seen some of his fights; he's really impressive!

I think he might dominate the middleweight division for a while.

Definitely! It’ll be exciting to see how he performs against the top contenders.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Middleweight → It is formed from "middle" (from Old English "midde", meaning the center or midpoint) and "weight" (from Old English "wēght", meaning heaviness or mass). The term "middleweight" refers to a weight class that is in the middle range of weights, particularly in sports like boxing.

Memory Tip

Think of being in the 'center' ('middle') of a range of 'heaviness' ('weight') — that's why middleweight refers to a weight class that is neither too light nor too heavy.

Visually Confused Words