welterweight

noun

wel·​ter·​weight ˈwel-tər-ˌwāt How to pronounce welterweight (audio)
: a boxer in a weight division having a maximum limit of 147 pounds compare lightweight, middleweight

Examples of welterweight in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Through his success in the ring, Page rose through Bellator’s welterweight division. Ben Morse, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 In 2017, Crawford became the undisputed champion at 140 pounds, then promptly vacated those titles to move up to welterweight. Morgan Campbell, New York Times, 30 July 2023 While his father was coaching neighbor kids at his boxing club — a brother, Gerald, 19, is a local light welterweight champion — young George was frequenting discos in stiletto heels and Carmen Miranda headgear. David Fricke, Peoplemag, 14 Jan. 2024 Surely Terence Crawford, the brilliant welterweight, would have no trouble in a hypothetical boxing match against Islam Makhachev, the devastating U.F.C. lightweight champion? Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023 This is one of the biggest fights in the welterweight division since Floyd Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao in 2015. Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 27 July 2023 The winner of the fight becomes the undisputed welterweight king. Anthony Gharib, USA TODAY, 29 July 2023 That landed him in the ring in 1961 with the defending welterweight champion, Paret, who lost his title when Griffith knocked him out in the 13th round. Elaina Patton, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2023 Charlo, the undisputed super welterweight champion, jumped two weight classes to challenge Álvarez, the undisputed super middleweight champion, after a 16-month layoff extended by a broken left hand. Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'welterweight.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

welter "a heavyweight horseman or boxer" (of obscure origin) + weight entry 1

Note: Compare welter in Joseph Wright, English Dialect Dictionary: "anything large of its kind; a 'whopper'" (attestation mostly from west Midlands).

First Known Use

circa 1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of welterweight was circa 1892

Dictionary Entries Near welterweight

Cite this Entry

“Welterweight.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/welterweight. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

welterweight

noun
wel·​ter·​weight ˈwel-tər-ˌwāt How to pronounce welterweight (audio)
: a boxer in a weight division having an upper limit of 147 pounds

More from Merriam-Webster on welterweight

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