What does lipoma mean?
A lipoma is a benign tumor made primarily of fatty tissue. It most often develops just beneath the skin, although it can occur in deeper soft tissues, and it may feel like a soft, movable lump. Lipomas are generally painless and slow-growing, and many cause no symptoms. Nevertheless, a doctor should evaluate any newly appearing or changing growth to confirm that it is not another type of tumor. The term comes from Greek roots meaning “fat” and “tumor,” accurately reflecting the nature of this growth. Although a lipoma is not cancerous, the medical diagnosis is important because other fatty or soft-tissue masses can require different treatment. The word is therefore both a precise clinical term and a familiar term for one of the body’s common benign growths.
nounA benign tumor made up of fatty tissue, usually occurring beneath the skin or in soft tissue.
- A benign tumor composed of fatty tissue, commonly found beneath the skin or in soft tissue.
"The doctor explained that the small lump was a harmless lipoma and did not require treatment."
"The surgeon removed a painless lipoma from her shoulder."
"Most subcutaneous lipomas are harmless, although a new or changing lump should be medically assessed."
The standard plural of lipoma.
"Several small lipomas were detected during the examination."
A lipoma is the body’s harmless lump of stored fat, and its name literally means a fatty tumor.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lipoma come from?
The word “lipoma” combines the Greek adjective lipos, meaning “fatty,” with the suffix -oma, used in the formation of names for tumors and swellings. It entered English through medical usage in the 19th century. Related medical terms such as lipid, lipolysis, and lipophilic share the same Greek root for fat.
Related word forms
How lipoma is actually used
A medical term used mainly in clinical and anatomical contexts. The word often carries associations of a harmless, slow-growing lump, but diagnosis cannot be based on appearance alone.
Easily confused with lipoma
A lipoma is a benign fatty tumor, whereas a liposarcoma is a malignant tumor arising from fatty tissue.