weightage: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, predominantly used in administrative, academic, financial, and technical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “weightage” mean?
The relative importance, value, or significance given to something when making a decision or calculation, often expressed as a percentage or proportion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The relative importance, value, or significance given to something when making a decision or calculation, often expressed as a percentage or proportion.
A system of allocating different degrees of importance to various factors, components, or criteria within an assessment, index, or evaluation process, influencing the final outcome.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
‘Weightage’ is far more common and established in Indian English and other South Asian varieties of English. In British and American English, the noun ‘weight’ (as in ‘give weight to’) or the phrase ‘weighting’ is typically preferred in equivalent contexts.
Connotations
In BrE/AmE, ‘weightage’ can sometimes be perceived as a non-standard or regional term, though it is understood. In the contexts where it is standard (e.g., India), it carries a neutral, technical connotation.
Frequency
High frequency in Indian English, especially in education, government, and HR. Low frequency in contemporary BrE and AmE, where ‘weighting’ is standard.
Grammar
How to Use “weightage” in a Sentence
N + give + weightage + to + NN + assign + weightage + to + NN + carry + weightage + of + NUMBERN + have + weightage + in + NVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “weightage” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (Not standard as a verb; use 'weight') The algorithm is weighted to favour recent data.
American English
- (Not standard as a verb; use 'weight') The survey results were weighted to reflect the national population.
adverb
British English
- (None)
American English
- (None)
adjective
British English
- (No direct adjectival form; use 'weighted') This is a weighted average, not a simple one.
American English
- (No direct adjectival form; use 'weighted') The weighted score determined the final ranking.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The committee decided the weightage for customer feedback would be 40% in the annual performance review.
Academic
The professor explained the weightage of the final exam was 60%, with coursework making up the remaining 40%.
Everyday
When choosing a school, parents should give proper weightage to the quality of teaching, not just the facilities.
Technical
The environmental impact assessment model applies a different weightage to each sustainability criterion.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “weightage”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “weightage”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “weightage”
- Using ‘weightage’ as a verb (e.g., ‘We will weightage these factors’). Correct: ‘We will give weightage to…’ or ‘We will weight these factors’.
- Confusing ‘weightage’ with ‘weight’. ‘Weight’ is the broader, more physical term; ‘weightage’ specifically refers to the assigned proportion of importance.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but its acceptability is regional. It is standard and common in Indian English and other South Asian varieties. In British and American English, 'weighting' is the more standard equivalent term.
'Weight' is a general term for heaviness or influence. 'Weightage' is a specific, often quantifiable, allocation of importance or value within a structured system like grading or indexing.
If you are writing in or for a context where Indian English is the norm (e.g., an Indian university), it is perfectly acceptable. For international journals or BrE/AmE contexts, 'weighting', 'weight assigned', or 'relative weight' is preferred.
It is generally used as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'give weightage to'). However, in contexts discussing different systems, it can be treated as countable (e.g., 'The two marking schemes use different weightages for coursework').
The relative importance, value, or significance given to something when making a decision or calculation, often expressed as a percentage or proportion.
Weightage is usually formal, predominantly used in administrative, academic, financial, and technical contexts. in register.
Weightage: in British English it is pronounced /ˈweɪ.tɪdʒ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈweɪ.t̬ɪdʒ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To give something its due weightage”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a set of old-fashioned balancing scales. You put ‘AGE’ on one side. To balance it, you must give the correct ‘WEIGHT’ to the ‘AGE’ – hence, WEIGHT-AGE.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS WEIGHT (e.g., ‘carry weight’, ‘throw one’s weight around’). Weightage quantifies this metaphorical weight.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses 'weightage' most appropriately?