1. something that is very heavy and difficult to lift or move
2. a person or thing that is useless or burdensome
Usage: often used figuratively
3. the total weight of a ship’s cargo, fuel, and supplies
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The piano was pure deadweight as we tried to move it upstairs.
• After his injury, he felt like deadweight on the team.
• The broken equipment became deadweight in the storage room.
• She carried him like deadweight after he fainted.
• The ship’s deadweight capacity is 50,000 tons.
• Without motivation, some employees become deadweight in the company.
• The deadweight of the concrete blocks made construction difficult.