What does weighty mean?
Weighty is an adjective meaning either physically heavy or, much more often today, important, substantial, and consequential. It is especially useful for describing an issue, decision, question, or influence that carries real significance. A weighty question is not merely a minor one; a weighty decision is one likely to have important consequences. In modern English, the figurative sense dominates, so weighty often signals a formal or serious register. The literal sense exists but is less common, and weighty can suggest something impressively massive or difficult to handle. Writers use it when scale matters, especially in discussion of law, politics, literature, and public affairs. Because it combines physical associations with the idea of significance, weighty is both precise and vivid: it tells readers that the subject has substance and should not be treated lightly. It is particularly useful when distinguishing truly consequential matters from routine ones.
adjectiveHaving considerable importance, influence, or significance; also, less commonly, physically heavy or giving an impression of solid weight.
- Important, significant, or likely to have substantial consequences.
- Physically heavy or giving an impression of considerable solidity or mass.
"The judge raised a weighty question about the limits of executive power."
"The court addressed the weighty constitutional issue before it."
"The critics dismissed the novel's weighty prose as overwrought."
The '-y' in weighty does double duty: it suggests physical heft and, figuratively, a matter of real importance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does weighty come from?
Weighty was formed in English by adding the suffix -y to weight, first suggesting the quality of having weight and later developing especially into the figurative sense of importance or significance. Weight comes from Old English wiht, meaning "weight" or "heaviness," and is inherited from Germanic roots. The formation reflects the productive English pattern of using -y to create adjectives from nouns.
Related word forms
How weighty is actually used
The figurative sense is much more common in modern English than the literal sense and often has a formal or serious tone. When used physically, weighty may suggest something impressively massive or difficult to handle.
Easily confused with weighty
Weight is the noun or verb for an object's heaviness or the act of measuring it, whereas weighty is an adjective describing something as heavy, important, or consequential.