fat

FAT/fæt/

Pluralfats

Adjectivefatter, fattest

25 meanings of fat

Practice

1
oily substancenouncountable
A greasy or oily substance found in the body and in many foods, which can be solid or liquid.
Like the white solid part on top of cold gravy.
Olive oil is a fat that stays liquid at room temperature.
When the soup cools, a layer of fat forms on top.
UsageWe say saturated fats and healthy fats.
Similarlipid
Note
2
body tissuenoununcountable
Soft tissue in a body that stores energy, including the fatty parts of meat.
Like a battery the body fills up to use later.
The doctor cut through a thin layer of fat under the skin.
A thick layer of fat keeps seals warm in cold water.
3
overweightadjective
Having more body weight than is normal, looking round and heavy rather than thin.
The cat had grown fat from too many treats.
He felt fat after the holidays and started exercising.
UsageCalling a person fat can hurt. Overweight or heavy is kinder.
Similaroverweight, plump, heavy, obese, stout
Oppositethin, slim, lean, skinny
4
bulkyadjective
Thick or wide, or round and full, like a fat book or a fat vase.
He carried a fat book under his arm.
She pulled a fat envelope from the drawer.
Similarthick, bulky, chunky, wide
Oppositethin, slim, narrow, slender
5
very greatadjectiveslang
Very great or real. In 'fat chance' and 'a fat lot' it means the opposite, very little or none.
Fat chance he'll ever pay you back.
A fat lot of good that advice did me.
Note
6
paying welladjective
Making or having a lot of money, like a fat paycheck.
She landed a fat contract with the studio.
The job came with a fat salary.
UsageWe say a fat salary or fat profits.
Similarlucrative, large, hefty, generous, handsome
Oppositemeager, small, modest, paltry
Note

Less common meanings

7
greasy (food)adjective
Full of oil or grease, rich and heavy to eat.
The stew was rich and fat with melted butter.
He found the gravy too fat and heavy.
Similargreasy, oily, rich
Oppositelean
8
overweightnounderogatorycolloquialuncountable
An unkind, rude word for a person who is fat.
Some dating profiles say "no fats," and many people find that cruel.
A rude post online called heavy people "fats" and got many angry replies.
UsageOften used in the plural: fats.
Similarfatso, porker
Note
9
wastenoununcountable
The wasteful parts of a company that can be cut to save money.
The new manager promised to cut the fat from the department.
There was plenty of fat to trim in the bloated budget.
UsageWe say cut the fat to mean remove waste.
Similarwaste, excess, slack, deadwood, flab
10
best partnoununcountable
The best and richest part of something.
Like the cream at the top of the milk.
After years of hard work, they finally lived off the fat of the land.
Only the senior partners enjoyed the fat, while the juniors got the scraps.
UsageWe say live off the fat of the land.
Similarcream, pick, best, choice, prime
Oppositedregs
Note
11
big roleadjective
A big and important acting part with lots to do.
Like getting the biggest slice of cake at a party.
She landed a fat role in the new drama.
Every actor dreams of a fat part with plenty to do.
UsageWe say a fat role or a fat part.
Similarmeaty, juicy, substantial, big
Oppositesmall, minor
Note
12
full-featured (computing)adjective
Carrying extra data or built-in features.
Like a backpack that carries everything you need, not just a few things.
A fat client keeps most of its data on the user's machine.
They shipped a fat program packed with extra features.
Similarthick, rich
Oppositethin
Note
13
cool (slang)adjectiveslang
Another spelling of phat: a slang word meaning great, cool or excellent.
That new beat is seriously fat.
That party was totally fat, and everyone had a great time.
UsageIn writing, phat is clearer.
Note
14
plentifuladjective
Producing a lot, like a big harvest or rich farmland.
After the rains they enjoyed a fat harvest.
The fat years gave way to leaner times.
Similarplentiful, abundant, bountiful, rich, fertile
Oppositelean, poor, meager, barren
15
nounslangvulgaruncountable
A man's erection.
He woke up with a fat and quickly pulled the blanket over himself.
Trying to hide a fat in gym shorts is a teenage nightmare.
UsageUsed mostly in the phrase crack a fat.
Similarerection, boner, hard-on, stiffy
16
adjectiveobsolete
Slow, dull, and stupid, like a heavy, lazy animal.
Note
17
gain weightverbarchaictransitive or intransitive
To get fatter, or to feed an animal so it gets fatter.
In old England, farmers would fat their geese for Christmas.
In the old story, the father orders the fatted calf for a feast.
18
adjectivedated
In old-time printing, describing work with lots of blank space that paid the worker well.
Similarlucrative, profitable
Oppositelean
Note
19
noundateduncountable
In old-time printing, work with lots of blank space that earned the worker good money.
Oppositelean
Note
20
tubnounobsolete
A big tub or container for holding water, wine, or other liquids.
And the floores ſhall bee full of wheate, and the fats ſhall ouerflowe with wine and oyle.
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, fats means large tubs for holding liquids like wine and oil.
Note
21
nounobsolete
An old measure for dry goods, usually equal to nine bushels.
Note
22
verb
To hit a golf ball badly so the club catches the ground first.
23
adjective
Describing a golf shot that hits the ground before it reaches the ball.
24
noun
A bad golf shot in which the club hits the ground before it hits the ball.
25
noun
A beef animal that has been fattened up to be sold.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of fat apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 3–7, 11–14, 16, 18

From Old English fǣtt, meaning 'fatted' or 'fat'.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

English fat descends from Old English fǣtt. en.wiktionary.org
Old English fǣtt means 'fatted' or 'fat'. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 1–2, 8–10, 15, 17, 19

From the adjective 'fat', and possibly from an Old English word fǣt meaning 'fat'.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

The noun derives from the adjective 'fat'. en.wiktionary.org
Old English fǣt meant 'fat' and is a possible source of the noun. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 20–21

From Old English fæt, meaning 'vat' or 'vessel'.

Checked 30 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

The vessel noun fat comes from Old English fæt, meaning 'vat' or 'vessel'. en.wiktionary.org