What does lipophilic mean?
Lipophilic describes a substance that has an affinity for fats and other lipids. Such substances tend to dissolve in oily or fatty media, interact with lipid membranes, or become concentrated in fatty tissues rather than dispersing readily in water. The term is common in chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology, and environmental science. For example, a lipophilic drug may pass easily through cell membranes and accumulate in fatty tissue, while lipophilic pollutants can persist in organisms and move through food chains. Lipophilicity is not always absolute: a substance may have some affinity for both lipids and water. In everyday discussion, the expression “oil-loving” conveys the basic idea, but the technical term is especially useful when describing how molecules interact with fats, membranes, and tissues.
adjectiveHaving an affinity for fats or lipids and tending to dissolve in or associate with them rather than with water.
- Having an affinity for fats or lipids; soluble in or preferentially associated with lipids rather than water.
"The drug is highly lipophilic, so it readily accumulates in fatty tissues throughout the body."
"Many environmental pollutants are lipophilic and can accumulate in animals and in the food chain."
"The researchers used a lipophilic tracer to follow the movement of lipids through the tissue."
Lipophilic substances behave like oil lovers: they mingle readily with fats and tend to linger in the body's fatty tissues.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of lipophilic
Lipophilic combines the combining form lipo-, from Greek lipos meaning “fat,” with -philic, from Greek philos meaning “loving” or “fond of.” The elements reflect the word's chemical sense of affinity for fatty substances. Its formation follows the established Greek combining-form pattern seen in related terms such as lipolysis and lipoma.
Related word forms
How lipophilic is actually used
This is primarily a technical term used in chemistry, biology, pharmacology, and environmental science. It describes an affinity for lipids rather than necessarily implying complete insolubility in water.
Easily confused with lipophilic
Lipophilic substances favour fats and lipids, whereas lipophobic substances avoid or are repelled by them.