What does defatted mean?
Defatted is an adjective meaning that fat has been deliberately removed from something. It is most commonly used for food ingredients and processed products, such as defatted flour, milk powder, and soybean meal, but it can also describe a substance from which fat has been extracted. As the past participle of defat, it may appear in technical or descriptive writing: “the fat was carefully defatted before processing.” The word carries a practical, process-oriented meaning rather than the evaluative sense of lean or healthy. “Defatted does not necessarily mean fat-free, since the degree of fat removal varies by product and context.” That distinction makes it useful in food science, cosmetics, and laboratory descriptions. More familiar in everyday speech, nonfat or fat-free is usually preferred for commercial labels. Defatted is nevertheless a precise word for emphasizing removal of fat as an intentional treatment rather than simply a naturally low-fat food.
adjectiveHaving had fat removed or deprived of fat, especially as a food, ingredient, or processed material.
- Having had fat removed or rendered low in fat.
"The recipe uses defatted flour to keep the filling from feeling greasy."
"Defatted milk powder forms the base of the powdered drink."
"The sample was defatted before being analyzed for residual contaminants."
From food science to laboratory shelves, defatted means the fat has been deliberately sent packing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does defatted come from?
Defatted is an English formation built transparently from the prefix de-, meaning removal or reversal, and the word fat. The ending -ed marks a completed or resulting state, so defatted denotes something that has undergone the removal of fat. Fat descends from Old English fǣtt and is of Germanic origin, while the prefix de- comes from Latin.
How defatted is actually used
Defatted is relatively formal and technical, especially in food processing, nutrition, cosmetics, and laboratory contexts. It emphasizes the removal of fat as a treatment and does not necessarily mean that a product is completely fat-free. Commercial food labels more often use nonfat or fat-free.
Easily confused with defatted
Defatted means deprived of fat, whereas defeated means beaten, overcome, or prevented from winning.