Featherweight describes something or someone that weighs very little. In boxing and some other combat sports, a featherweight is a fighter in a lighter weight class, usually around 126 pounds. These athletes are typically quick and agile, relying on speed and technique rather than raw power.

Outside of sports, the word describes anything remarkably light. A featherweight laptop is easy to carry in your backpack all day. A featherweight jacket provides warmth without feeling heavy on your shoulders.

People sometimes use featherweight figuratively to describe something that lacks substance or importance. A featherweight argument is weak and unconvincing, easily knocked down like something that weighs almost nothing. A featherweight excuse won't hold up under scrutiny. In this sense, the word suggests something is insubstantial, carrying little weight in the metaphorical sense of importance or influence.