What does backfat mean?
Backfat is chiefly a North American noun for the layer of fat running along an animal's back, especially the thick covering over a pig's spine. In livestock evaluation, the amount of backfat is a practical measure of an animal's finish and can influence buying, breeding, and marketing decisions. Butchers also use the term for the strip of fat they may trim from a cut of pork. It should not be confused with ordinary body fat: backfat identifies a particular anatomical layer or the fat of a slaughtered animal. An older, now-rare verb, backfat, means to fatten an animal in order to produce such a layer. Outside agricultural, food-processing, and historical contexts, the word is uncommon, and many speakers would use a plainer expression such as a “layer of fat” or “pork fat.” The term is useful because it names a specific cut and fat cover that those who work with animals or meat routinely distinguish from fat elsewhere on the carcass.
The layer of fat lying along an animal's back, especially the thick layer covering a hog's spine.
"The cut of pork contained a substantial amount of backfat."
The amount of backfat is used in livestock evaluation to estimate an animal's finish or fatness.
To fatten an animal in such a way that it develops a layer of fat along the back.
"The farmer backfatted the young pigs before sending them to market."
This verb is archaic and now rarely used.
The countable plural is uncommon; speakers usually use backfat as an uncountable noun or refer to layers or amounts of backfat.
"The carcasses were rejected because they had excessive backfats."
A sliver of backfat can be a butcher's clue—and a livestock breeder's measurement.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does backfat come from?
Backfat is an English compound of back and fat. The word is attested in the early nineteenth century for the fat on a hog's back, while the older verb meant to fatten an animal so as to form this covering. Its components have independent Germanic histories: back continues Old English bæc, while fat continues Old English fætt.
Related word forms
How backfat is actually used
The noun is chiefly technical, appearing in livestock, meat-processing, and agricultural contexts, and is uncommon in general conversation. The verb is archaic and rarely encountered in contemporary English.