heavyweight
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heavyweight
The highest weight class in certain combat sports such as boxing, wrestling, or weightlifting.
Der Boxer kämpft im Schwergewicht und wiegt über 91 Kilogramm.
The boxer fights as a heavyweight and weighs over 91 kilograms.
heavyweight
A person, organization, or thing that is especially important, influential, or powerful in a particular field.
Das Unternehmen ist ein Schwergewicht in der Automobilindustrie.
The company is a heavyweight in the automotive industry.
heavyweight
An object or load with a very high physical weight.
Für den Transport dieses Schwergewichts wird ein spezieller Kran benötigt.
A special crane is needed to transport this heavyweight.
'Schwergewicht' (heavyweight) is a compound made from the adjective 'schwer' (heavy) and the noun 'das Gewicht' (weight). Its literal meaning is therefore simply 'a high weight'.
Der Transport des Schwergewichts erforderte einen Speziallastwagen.
Transporting the heavyweight required a special truck.
The meaning is easy to recognize from context. In a sports context (e.g., boxing), it means a weight class. In business or politics, it refers to an influential person or thing. In everyday language, it is often literally a heavy object.
Der amtierende Weltmeister kämpft im Schwergewicht.
The reigning world champion fights as a heavyweight.
Even when 'Schwergewicht' (heavyweight) can refer to a male person (e.g., a boxer), the grammatical gender of the word always remains neuter: 'das Schwergewicht'. So you say: 'Er ist ein Schwergewicht' (He is a heavyweight).
Der neue Parteivorsitzende ist ein politisches Schwergewicht.
The new party leader is a political heavyweight.
In the figurative meaning, 'Schwergewicht' (heavyweight) is often combined with the area in which the influence exists. Typical phrases are 'ein Schwergewicht in/der...' (a heavyweight in/of...) or 'ein politisches/wirtschaftliches Schwergewicht' (a political/economic heavyweight).
Die Autorin ist ein Schwergewicht der deutschen Gegenwartsliteratur.
The author is a heavyweight of contemporary German literature.
focus / center of gravity
Der Schwerpunkt refers to the most important content or area of work. Das Schwergewicht, by contrast, refers to a person, organization, or thing with especially great importance, achievements, or influence. At a conference, a topic can be the Schwerpunkt, while an important company is considered a Schwergewicht of the industry.
Auf derselben Wirtschaftskonferenz spricht ein Schwergewicht der Energiebranche.
A heavyweight in the energy industry is speaking at the same economic conference.
Der Schwerpunkt der Wirtschaftskonferenz liegt auf erneuerbaren Energien.
The focus of the economic conference is renewable energy.
