fatten

1 of 2

verb

fat·​ten ˈfa-tᵊn 

fattened; fattening fa-tə-niŋ 

ˈfat-niŋˈ

transitive verb

1

a

: to make fat, fleshy, or plump

especially : to feed (an animal) for slaughter

b

: to make more substantial

2

: to make fertile

intransitive verb

: to become fat

fattener

ˈfa-tə-nər 

ˈfat-nər

noun

fattener

2 of 2

noun

fat·​ten·​er -t(ᵊ)nə(r) 

plural -s

1

: one that fattens

selling young goslings to fatteners

2

: stock to be fattened for slaughter

some of the pigs were singled out as breeders and the rest left as fatteners

Examples of fatten in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In Texas, feedlots where Mexican cows were fattened up were hit hard, and that also affected beef supply in the United States. — Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Search ahead, especially before entering expensive corridors, remote areas or tourist towns where fuel prices fatten up like raccoons behind a diner. — Josh Max, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026

But the rules are written as if to fatten the wallets of the hospital and insurance giants — while the taxpayers and employers eat the costs. — Stephen Moore, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

Sanjar also has figured out that the most efficient time of year to deploy them is summer, when snakes are fattening up for breeding season in late fall. — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Rhymes for fatten

• batten
• craton
• flatten
• gratin
• gratton
• latin
• lattin
• matin
• paten
• patten
• platen
• ratan

Kids Definition

fatten

verb

fat·​ten ˈfat-ᵊn 

fattened; fattening ˈfat-niŋ 

-ᵊn-iŋ

: to make or become fat

fattener

-(ə-)nər 

noun