Skip to the word

Added 5 October 2026

weight

/weɪt/ noun

In Latin: pondus Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about weight at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

The downwards force an object experiences due to gravity.
An object used to make something heavier.
A standardized block of metal used in a balance to measure the mass of another object.

verb

To add weight to something; to make something heavier. To load (fabrics) with barite, etc. to increase the weight.
To load (fabrics) with barite, etc. to increase the weight.
To load, burden or oppress someone.

Origin

From Middle English weight, weiȝte, weght, wight, from Old English wiht, ġewiht (“weight”), from Proto-Germanic *wihtiz ("weight"; compare *weganą (“to move”)), from Proto-Indo-European *weǵʰ- (“to move; pull; draw; drive”). Equivalent to weigh + -t (abstract nominal suffix). Cognate with Scots wecht, weicht (“weight”), Saterland Frisian Wächte (“scale”), Gewicht (“weight”), West Frisian gewicht (“weight”), Dutch gewicht (“weight”), German Low German Wicht, Gewicht (“weight”), German Wucht (“massiveness, force”), Gewicht (“weight”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Back to today's word