heavy hitter

noun

1. a baseball player who makes many extra-base hits.
2. a very important or influential person:

   the secretary of state and other heavy hitters.

heavy hitter

noun

1. informal.
   another term for big hitter

Other Words From

• heavy-hitter adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of heavy hitter¹

First recorded in 1975–80

Idioms and Phrases

An important or influential individual or organization. For example, This publishing house is one of the heavy hitters in the textbook industry . This expression originated in sports such as boxing, where it literally meant “hitting hard,” and was transferred to other enterprises in the mid-1900s.

Example Sentences

She touted her support from heavy hitters such as the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and the county’s Federation of Labor.

From Los Angeles Times

The country icon’s always-stacked Outlaw Music Festival blows into the Gorge with arguably the heaviest of heavy hitter lineups this summer.

From Seattle Times

Westminster routinely attracts a roster of dog showing’s heavy hitters.

From Seattle Times

It seemed as if every major urban entertainment heavy hitter were milling around the conspicuously luxurious modern house and vast grounds.

From Los Angeles Times

In the early months of the campaign, Democratic heavy hitters coalesced around Mr. Schiff, 63.

From New York Times