The term deadweight or dead weight may refer to: The economics concept deadweight loss. Deadweight tonnage's an expression of a ship's carrying capacity, including the weight of the crew, passengers, cargo, fuel, ballast, drinking water, and stores. Deadweight (song), a song by Beck from the A Life Less Ordinary Soundtrack The extra weight on a machine part that lowers its performance when not in use. For example, the main engine on a rocket becomes dead weight when the propellant's used up.… (More on Deadweight)