top–heavy

adjective \ˈtäp-ˌhe-vē\

: likely to fall over because the top part is too large and heavy for the bottom part

: having too many people whose job is to manage workers and not enough ordinary workers

Full Definition of TOP-HEAVY

: having the top part too heavy for the lower part

: having too high a proportion of administrators <a top–heavy bureaucracy>

: oversupplied with one element at the expense of others : lacking balance <a novel top–heavy with description>

See top–heavy defined for English-language learners

See top-heavy defined for kids

circa 1533

Next Word in the Dictionary: TophetPrevious Word in the Dictionary: top–heavinessAll Words Near: top-heavy

What made you want to look up top-heavy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Put-downs with flair

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

Test your vocab with our fun, fast game

Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears