fatty acid

noun

Definition of fatty acid

1 : any of numerous saturated aliphatic monocarboxylic acids C_nH_2n₊₁COOH (such as acetic acid) including many that occur naturally usually in the form of esters in fats, waxes, and essential oils

2 : any of the saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic acids (such as palmitic acid) usually with an even number of carbon atoms that occur naturally in the form of glycerides in fats and fatty oils

Examples of fatty acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The innocuous oil deeply hydrates skin (without suffocating your pores) with fatty acids that also fade acne scars and reduce redness. — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "The Best Face Oil for Every Single Skin Type," 11 July 2018 Roughly 8% of adults—or about 19 million people—take some kind of omega-3 fatty acid supplement, according to the latest figures from the National Institutes of Health. — Markham Heid, Time, "Are Omega-3s Good for Your Brain?," 20 June 2018 This includes behavioral therapy and complementary medicines as well as natural and herbal remedies such as omega fatty acid supplements. — Michelle Watson, CNN, "Millions of kids on ADHD meds decide their treatment as adults," 6 June 2018 The enzyme produces fatty acid compounds associated with colon inflammation, Zhang said. — Elise Takahama, BostonGlobe.com, "UMass Amherst food scientists discover how obesity could be linked to colon cancer," 30 Apr. 2018 One possibility, Hlusko says, is that the EDAR gene variant works with fatty acid genes to deliver more fats in breast milk. — Ann Gibbons, Science | AAAS, "Gene linked to breastfeeding may have boosted survival of earliest Americans," 23 Apr. 2018 Besides the endocannabinoid changes, there were shifts in certain metabolites related to the steroid system and fatty acid metabolism. — Amy Norton, chicagotribune.com, "Coffee may affect metabolism more than previously thought," 21 Mar. 2018 In another strain of Y. lipolytica, Blenner and his group altered the fatty acid production pathway to produce plastic polyesters that could be used to 3-D print tools in space. — Knvul Sheikh, Scientific American, "Microbes Could Recycle Astronauts’ Waste to Make Nutrients and Tools," 1 Nov. 2017 Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades also suggests a diet rich in fatty acids, protein, and vitamins: all the things skin needs for good wound-healing and skin development. — Lauren Hubbard, Harper's BAZAAR, "Can You Get Rid of Stretch Marks?," 13 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fatty acid.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

20 Oct 2018

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The first known use of fatty acid was in 1838

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More Definitions for fatty acid

fatty acid

noun

English Language Learners Definition of fatty acid

: an acid that is naturally in fats and various oils

See the full definition for fatty acid in the English Language Learners Dictionary

fatty acid

noun

Medical Definition of fatty acid

1 : any of numerous saturated aliphatic acids C_nH₂_n₊₁COOH (as lauric acid) containing a single carboxyl group and including many that occur naturally usually in the form of esters in fats, waxes, and essential oils

2 : any of the saturated or unsaturated organic acids (as palmitic acid) that have a single carboxyl group and usually an even number of carbon atoms and that occur naturally in the form of glycerides in fats and fatty oils