weighty matter

Meaning

A 'weighty matter' is a subject, issue, or problem that is highly serious, important, and requires deep thought or careful consideration. It is a formal collocation often used in legal, political, philosophical, or formal personal discussions. It highlights the psychological or moral gravity of the topic.

Examples

• Deciding whether to sell the family business is a very weighty matter.

  Deciding whether to sell the family business is a very weighty matter.

• The supreme court judges spent weeks deliberating on this weighty matter.

  The supreme court judges spent weeks deliberating on this weighty matter.

• We must not rush our decision; this is a weighty matter that affects everyone.

  We must not rush our decision; this is a weighty matter that affects everyone.

• He spoke with great solemnity, recognizing the weighty matter at hand.

  He spoke with great solemnity, recognizing the weighty matter at hand.

• Ethical dilemmas in medical research are always a weighty matter.

  Ethical dilemmas in medical research are always a weighty matter.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ This is a heavy matter that we need to discuss.

  ✓ This is a weighty matter that we need to discuss.

  While 'heavy' can mean serious, 'weighty matter' is the established, elegant formal collocation.

• ✗ They argued about a weighty problem.

  ✓ They argued about a weighty matter.

  'Weighty' collocates most naturally and frequently with 'matter' or 'issue' in formal English.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Choosing a career path is a ___ for any young graduate.

  💡 It means a serious, highly consequential decision.

  Show answer

  weighty matter

• The board of directors met privately to address this ___.

  💡 An important and serious subject of discussion.

  Show answer

  weighty matter