makeweight \ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷\noun 1. a.: something thrown into a scale to bring the weight to a desired value b.: a thing or a person of little worth or independent value thrown into a gap or empty place to fill out a whole < some of the stories in the collection are mere makeweights > 2.: counterweight, counterpoise < America's power as a makeweight in the international scales — J.R.Chamberlain >