What does meatiness mean?
Meatiness is a noun denoting a rich, substantial quality. In its literal sense, it describes food that has a pronounced savory character, a satisfying heft, or a texture reminiscent of meat. In figurative use, meatiness refers to substance and significance: a speech, argument, book, or performance may be called meaty when it is substantial, forceful, and rich in ideas rather than thin or superficial. The word is somewhat literary and uncommon, so writers often choose it when emphasizing depth, richness, or physical solidity. It can carry positive connotations in both culinary and intellectual contexts, suggesting that something nourishes the mind or senses. Meatiness also echoes its base word, meat, which makes it especially effective when describing food or discussing ideas with vivid, physical force.
nounThe quality of being meaty, especially the rich, substantial character of food. By extension, it can refer to the quality of being significant, forceful, or rich in content.
- The quality of being rich, fleshy, or substantial in taste or texture.
- The quality of being substantial, significant, or rich in content, especially in speech, writing, or an argument.
"The slow braising gave the stew a rich meatiness that complemented its tender vegetables."
"The slow braising gave the stew a rich meatiness that complemented its tender vegetables."
"The lecture had intellectual meatiness, offering far more substance than its brief title suggested."
The plural is grammatically possible but rarely used because the word normally describes a quality.
"The critic compared the meatinesses of several regional cooking traditions."
Meatiness turns a simple meal—or a thin argument—into a question of substance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meatiness come from?
Meatiness is an English formation made by adding the noun-forming suffix -iness to meat. The base meat descends from Old English mete, a Germanic word inherited into English. The related adjective meaty and the abstract noun meatiness thus belong to the same lexical family, with the suffix turning the quality of being meat-like into a noun.
How meatiness is actually used
The word is relatively uncommon in everyday English. Its culinary use is concrete and sensory, while its figurative use is somewhat formal and often suggests that something has notable substance or importance.
Easily confused with meatiness
Meatiness suggests substance, richness, or significance, whereas meanness refers to unkind or contemptible behavior.