fatty acid

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 complex carbohydrates, like starch, begin to break down into sugars; the proteins start to break down into amino acids and peptides; and the fats gets broken down into fatty acids, Sorrells explains. — Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, "Are Sprouted Grains Actually Healthier?," 18 Oct. 2019 Fat is made up of triglycerides, or a glycerol molecule with three fatty acids attached. — Environmental Nutrition, sun-sentinel.com, "How to choose the best oil for you," 28 Aug. 2019 Saturated fats are made of different fatty acids, and the saturated fat profile of dairy foods looks different than that of meat or other foods. — Samantha Cassetty, NBC News, "Everything you need to know about fats, according to a registered dietitian," 17 June 2019 Separately, researchers presented results of a trial of 8,179 patients showing that Vascepa, a drug derived from an Omega-3 fatty acid in fish oil cut the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack and other events in study subjects by 25%. — Betsy Mckay, WSJ, "New Guidelines for Treating High Cholesterol Take a Personal Approach," 10 Nov. 2018 The species is ground up and used in anything from health supplements rich with omega-3 fatty acids to high-end dog food. — Washington Post, "Fish oil firm may be barred from fishing in Chesapeake Bay," 19 Dec. 2019 Improved heart health: Chia seeds are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) a type of omega-3 fatty acid that comes mainly from plants. — Kaitlyn Pirie, Good Housekeeping, "The Health Benefits of Chia Seed Water, According to a Registered Dietitian," 26 Nov. 2019 In art museums, visitors are told never to touch anything because skin produces fatty acids that can damage artworks. — Steven Litt, cleveland, "Former MTV reporter Tabitha Soren’s ‘Surface Tension’ explores power of touch at Transformer Station," 17 Nov. 2019 Lipoid pneumonia is caused when lipids (which are, essentially, fatty acids) enter the lungs, causing the lungs to become inflamed. — Maggie O'neill, Health.com, "What Is Lipoid Pneumonia—and Can You Get It From Vaping?," 23 Aug. 2019

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

13 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Fatty acid.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fatty%20acid. Accessed 25 January 2020.

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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