What does fibrate mean?
A fibrate is a member of a class of medications prescribed to lower levels of lipids—especially triglycerides—in the blood. Drugs in this class, including gemfibrozil and fenofibrate, work primarily by activating the PPAR-alpha receptor, which increases the breakdown of fats and boosts HDL ('good') cholesterol. Fibrates are typically given to patients with very high triglycerides, where they also reduce the risk of pancreatitis, though large trials have shown more modest benefits for overall cardiovascular outcomes than statins provide. The term is essentially clinical: it appears in prescribing information, medical journals, and cardiology discussions rather than everyday speech. Notably, several individual drugs carry '-fibrate' directly in their names—fenofibrate, bezafibrate, clofibrate—a naming convention that signals their shared chemical lineage. The word itself traces back through 'fibrin' to the Latin 'fibra', meaning fiber.
nounA fibrate is any of a class of lipid-lowering drugs (such as gemfibrozil and fenofibrate) that act mainly by activating PPAR-alpha receptors to reduce blood triglyceride levels and raise HDL cholesterol.
- Any of a class of lipid-lowering drugs that reduce blood triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol, chiefly by activating PPAR-alpha receptors.
"The cardiologist added a fibrate to the patient's regimen after his triglycerides remained stubbornly high despite statin therapy."
"Because his triglycerides exceeded 500 mg/dL even on statins, the physician prescribed a fibrate as well."
"Fibrates such as fenofibrate are generally avoided in combination with statins because of an elevated risk of muscle damage."
Standard pluralization; commonly used when referring to the entire class of drugs collectively.
"Fibrates remain a mainstay of treatment for severe hypertriglyceridemia."
Fenofibrate and gemfibrozil are both fibrates — but fenofibrate's very name ends in '-fibrate', quietly advertising its membership in this drug class.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of fibrate
The word fibrate derives from fibrin—the protein involved in blood clotting—combined with the chemical suffix '-ate' reflecting the carboxylic acid structure of these drugs; fibrin itself comes from the Latin 'fibra', meaning fiber. The first fibrates, notably clofibrate, were developed in the mid-20th century during research into synthetic lipid-lowering agents, and later members of the class took names ending in '-fibrate' in direct imitation. The same Latin root gives English words like fiber, fibrous, and fibrosis.
Related word forms
How fibrate is actually used
Fibrate is overwhelmingly a technical term used in pharmacology and clinical medicine; it rarely appears in general conversation outside discussions of heart health and prescription drugs.
Easily confused with fibrate
Fiber is a dietary or threadlike filament, whereas a fibrate is a specific class of lipid-lowering pharmaceutical drug.
Vibrate is a verb meaning to move rapidly back and forth, while fibrate is a noun naming a type of cholesterol medication.