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Noun: deadweight loss
  1. (economics) reduction in economic activity caused when prices differ from market equilibrium
    "Even net-beneficial taxes create some deadweight loss by changing behaviour"
Noun: dead weight
  1. A heavy motionless weight
    "The dead weight of the waterlogged boat made it difficult to tow"
     
  2. An oppressive encumbrance
    "The failing division became a dead weight on the company's finances"
     
  3. (shipping) a vessel's carrying capacity measured in tons
    "The tanker had a dead weight of 50,000 tons"

Derived forms: dead weights

Type of: burden, encumbrance, incumbrance, load, onus, weight

Encyclopedia: Deadweight loss

Dead weight