heavy
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
A villain or bad guy; the one responsible for evil or aggressive acts.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
With his wrinkled, uneven face, the actor always seemed to play the heavy in films.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A doorman, bouncer or bodyguard.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
A newspaper of the quality press.
Register: slang
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “heavy” mean?
A villain or bad guy; the one responsible for evil or aggressive acts.
Is “heavy” formal or informal?
heavy is generally slang.