1. heavy objects or masses that provide no useful function
2. people who contribute nothing useful to a group or organization
Usage: informal; often derogatory
3. the total weight of a ship’s cargo, fuel, and supplies
Usage: nautical

Examples

• The construction crew removed the deadweights from the building site.
• These old machines are just deadweights taking up valuable space.
• The manager decided to eliminate the deadweights from the team.
• Several employees were considered deadweights after the productivity review.
• The ship’s deadweights included 500 tons of grain and fuel.
• Heavy deadweights in the warehouse made reorganization difficult.
• The company couldn’t afford to carry deadweights during the recession.