# weight

> English word · Noun · IPA /weɪt/ · frequency rank #1,036

## Definitions
1. The downwards force an object experiences due to gravity.
2. An object used to make something heavier.
3. A standardized block of metal used in a balance to measure the mass of another object.
4. Importance or influence.
5. An object, such as a weight plate or barbell, used for strength training.
6. An object, such as a weight plate or barbell, used for strength training.
7. Viscosity rating.
8. Mass (atomic weight, molecular weight, etc.) (in restricted circumstances).
9. Synonym of mass (in general circumstances).
10. Mass (net weight, troy weight, carat weight, etc.).
11. A variable which multiplies a value for ease of statistical manipulation.
12. The smallest cardinality of a base.
13. The boldness of a font; the relative thickness of its strokes.
14. The relative thickness of a drawn rule or painted brushstroke, line weight.
15. The illusion of mass.
16. The thickness and opacity of paint.
17. The thickness of yarn.
18. Pressure; burden.
19. The resistance against which a machine acts, as opposed to the power which moves it.
20. Shipments of (often illegal) drugs.
21. One pound of drugs, especially cannabis.
22. Money.
23. Weight class
24. Emphasis applied to a given criterion.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **wight** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weight-vs-wight)
- **wright** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weight-vs-wright)
- **weights** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weight-vs-weights)
- **weighty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weight-vs-weighty)
- **weighted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weight-vs-weighted)
- **weigh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weigh-vs-weight)
- **weighs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weighs-vs-weight)
- **weighed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/weighed-vs-weight)
- **wait** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/wait-vs-weight)

## Common misspellings (9)
`ewight`, `wegiht`, `weigght`, `weighht`, `weightt`, `weigth`, `weihgt`, `wieght`, `wweight`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/weight