deadweight
/ˈdɛdˌweɪt/
noun
- A person or thing that is a burden or causes difficulty because it is heavy, useless, or unproductive.
- The old, broken machinery was just deadweight in the warehouse, taking up space.
- In group projects, one lazy member can become deadweight for the whole team.
- The company had to lay off several deadweight employees who weren't contributing.
- The weight of a vehicle or structure without passengers, cargo, or fuel.
- Engineers calculated the deadweight of the bridge to ensure the supports could hold it.
- The ship's deadweight capacity determines how much cargo it can carry.
- The truck's deadweight is about 10,000 pounds before any cargo is loaded.
- A heavy, inert mass used for stability or as a counterbalance.
- Divers sometimes carry deadweight to help them sink faster.
- The crane uses a concrete deadweight at the back to prevent tipping.
- The anchor's deadweight keeps the boat from drifting.
Synonyms
adjective
- Describing something that is heavy, burdensome, or unproductive.
- He felt like a deadweight passenger on the long hike, slowing everyone down.
- The deadweight loss from the new tax policy hurt small businesses.
- The deadweight cost of maintaining the old building was too high.