overweight

[ adjective oh-ver-weyt; noun oh-ver-weyt; verb oh-ver-weyt ]

adjective

1. weighing too much or more than is considered normal, proper, etc.:

   overweight luggage; an overweight patient; two letters that may be overweight.

noun

1. extra or excess weight above what law or regulation allows, as of baggage or freight:

   The overweight will cost us $12.

2. weight in excess of that considered normal, proper, healthful, etc.:

   Overweight in a child should not be neglected.

3. greater effect or importance; preponderance.

verb (used with object)

1. to weight excessively; exceed the weight limit of.
2. to give too much consideration or emphasis to; stress unduly.

overweight

adjective

1. weighing more than is usual, allowed, or healthy
2. finance
   1. having a higher proportion of one's investments in a particular sector of the market than the size of that sector relative to the total market would suggest: portfolio managers are currently overweight in bonds
   2. (of a fund etc) invested disproportionately in this way

noun

1. extra or excess weight
2. archaic.
   greater importance or effect

verb

1. to give too much emphasis or consideration to
2. to add too much weight to
3. to weigh down

Word History and Origins

Origin of overweight¹

First recorded in 1545–55; over- + weight

Example Sentences

Those not classed as obese can be given the drug if they are overweight and have cardiovascular disease.

From BBC

Aimed at people who are severely overweight, Wegovy's active ingredient is a medicine called semaglutide, which helps control blood sugar, lowers appetite, and makes patients feel fuller.

From BBC

In a post on Chinese app, WeChat, Novo Nordisk said its treatment "will provide a safe and effective weight loss option for overweight and obese patients in China".

From BBC

"To mitigate these risks, screening for alcohol use in primary care settings is essential. Coexisting conditions like overweight and obesity can accelerate liver damage, which may in turn lead to earlier onset of cirrhosis and liver cancer. The U.S. has the highest rates of overweight and obesity in the world and low levels of daily physical activity. The deleterious interaction of these factors may contribute to the observed trends in alcohol-related mortality, particularly in younger adults."

From Science Daily

Von Meyenn adds: "It's precisely because of this memory effect that it's so important to avoid being overweight in the first place. Because that's the simplest way to combat the yo-yo phenomenon."

From Science Daily

Related Words

• corpulent
• obese
• pudgy