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What is the Meaning of “Fat”?

Fat
/fæt/

Having a lot of body weight or body tissue; thick or containing oil.

Definition of Fat

Quick Meaning of Fat

Having a lot of body weight or body tissue; thick or containing oil.

Detailed Definition of Fat

Having much body tissue that stores energy; containing a large amount of fat or oil.

How to Pronounce Fat

IPA: /fæt/
fat

Stress pattern: O (1-syllable word).

Tip: The A is short like in apple and cat: FAT (rhymes with cat and hat).

Watch out: Some non-native speakers pronounce with long A like in fate (feɪt) instead of short A (fæt).

Full pronunciation guide for “fat” →

Origin and Etymology of Fat

From Old English fæt, possibly related to Old High German feizt, meaning fit or suitable.

How to Use Fat in a Sentence

Each example shows “fat” with a CEFR level so learners can pick examples that match their fluency.

  • “The butter has too much fat for my diet.”
    A1 daily
  • “He became fat after eating unhealthy food for years.”
    A2 conversation
  • “Fat-soluble vitamins like A and D are stored in body tissue.”
    B1 academic

Synonyms and Antonyms of Fat

Common Synonyms for Fat

Smart Synonyms for Fat — When to Use Each

obese
medical or clinical term for significant excess weight
chubby
mild and often affectionate term for slightly round
overweight
neutral descriptor comparing actual weight to healthy range

Antonyms of Fat

See all synonyms for “fat” →

Common Collocations with Fat

These phrases pair with “fat” in everyday English:

  • fat content
  • body fat
  • fat-free
  • low fat
  • reduce fat

Common Mistakes When Using Fat

Even fluent speakers slip up with “fat”. Here’s how to avoid the most common errors:

✗ Wrong: The meat is fat too much.
✓ Correct: The meat has too much fat.
Why: Use verb 'has' with the noun form fat, not adjective fat with 'is too much'.
✗ Wrong: This food is very fat.
✓ Correct: This food is very fatty.
Why: When describing food composition or texture, use the adjective fatty (containing fat), not fat (having body weight).

Words Confused With Fat

  • Fat vs Thick: Thick describes width or depth of objects; fat describes body tissue or oil content Compare →

Other Forms of Fat

Frequently Asked Questions About Fat

What is the meaning of "Fat"?

Having a lot of body weight or body tissue; thick or containing oil.

How do you pronounce "Fat"?

The IPA is /fæt/. The A is short like in apple and cat: FAT (rhymes with cat and hat).

What part of speech is "Fat"?

"Fat" is an adjective at A1 level (Common European Framework).

What are synonyms for "Fat"?

Common synonyms include obese, overweight, chubby.

How do you use "Fat" in a sentence?

For example: "The butter has too much fat for my diet."

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