What does monounsaturated mean?
Monounsaturated describes a fat, fatty acid, or other organic compound containing exactly one carbon–carbon double bond in each relevant carbon chain. In nutrition, the term is used for fats whose chains have a single double bond, including the fatty acids commonly found in olive oil, nuts, seeds, and some other foods. These compounds are often distinguished from saturated fats, which have no double bonds, and polyunsaturated fats, which have two or more. A double bond introduces a bend into a fatty-acid chain, affecting how the fat behaves physically and how the body handles it. The word is technical rather than poetic and is most likely to appear in chemistry, biology, food science, and dietary guidance. It is also useful in describing molecular structure precisely, since “one double bond” distinguishes it from both fully saturated and multiply unsaturated compounds.
adjectiveContaining only one carbon–carbon double bond. In chemistry and nutrition, the term is used especially of fatty acids and fats whose hydrocarbon chains contain a single double bond.
- Having, or relating to a compound with exactly one carbon–carbon double bond, especially a fatty acid or fat.
"Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, which are generally considered part of a healthy diet."
"The recipe calls for olive oil, a source of monounsaturated fat."
"This chemical is classified as monounsaturated because its carbon chain contains one double bond."
A monounsaturated fat has exactly one kink in its carbon chain; adding more double bonds creates the category called polyunsaturated.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of monounsaturated
Monounsaturated was formed in the 19th century from the combining form mono-, meaning “one,” and unsaturated, a term used in chemistry for compounds capable of combining with additional hydrogen. Unsaturated ultimately draws on Latin saturare, meaning “to fill or satisfy,” through the idea of a compound being saturated or fully combined. The prefix mono- distinguishes this term from polyunsaturated, which contains multiple double bonds.
How monounsaturated is actually used
The term is most common in chemistry and nutrition. In food descriptions, it normally contrasts with saturated and polyunsaturated fats. It is more technical than the informal phrase “good fat” and should not be used to imply that every monounsaturated food has the same nutritional effect.
Easily confused with monounsaturated
Monounsaturated describes a chain containing one double bond, whereas polyunsaturated describes one containing two or more.
A monounsaturated chain contains one double bond, while a saturated chain contains no carbon–carbon double bonds.