omega-3
adjective
-ˈmē-, -ˈme-\
Definition of omega-3
: being or composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids that have the final double bond in the hydrocarbon chain between the third and fourth carbon atoms from the end of the molecule opposite that of the carboxyl group and that are found especially in fish, fish oils, green leafy vegetables, and some nuts and vegetable oils — compare omega-6
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Examples of omega-3 in a Sentence
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Vascepa, which is made from omega-3 fatty acid derived from fish, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2012 for use lowering fats known as triglycerides that circulate in the blood. — Jonathan D. Rockoff, WSJ, "Amarin Surges on Fish-Oil Drug Data," 24 Sep. 2018 Plus, the high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids found in some types of fish help reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke and protect your brain. — Woman's Day, "Everything You Need to Know About Picking Out and Preparing Fish," 19 Sep. 2018 Simply put, fish oil supplements are a way to increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids. — Carolyn Todd, Allure, "Everything You Should Know Before Taking Fish Oil Supplements," 21 Aug. 2018 Fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, a type of good fat that may help your baby’s brain development, G. Thomas Ruiz, M.D., lead ob/gyn at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, Calif., tells SELF. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Hilary Duff May Have Eaten Sushi While Pregnant and Everyone Needs to Chill Out About It," 13 July 2018 Fish is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which is essential for development of the brain and eyes. — Orthocincy, Cincinnati.com, "Benefits of eating fish," 19 June 2018 For instance, walnut milk is a wonderful source of omega-3 fatty acids. — Time, "Weekend Recipe: Your Guide to Creating Dairy-Free Nut, Seed and Rice Milks," 22 June 2018 This recipe features salmon, which is a great source of protein and provides plenty of omega-3 fatty acids. — Andrea Thelen, Ms, Detroit Free Press, "VIDEO: Sheet-pan rainbow vegetables & lemon-garlic salmon," 21 May 2018 Fish is the best dietary source of omega-3 fatty acids, a type of fat that may help reduce the risk of heart disease. — Consumer Reports, Washington Post, "From oatmeal to sardines, 7 foods that really can help hearts stay healthy," 7 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'omega-3.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek...
Going Greek: 7 Words from the Greek Alphabet
When English borrows from another alphabet
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More Definitions for omega-3
omega-3
adjective
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Medical Definition of omega-3
: being or composed of polyunsaturated fatty acids in which the first double bond in the hydrocarbon chain occurs between the third and fourth carbon atoms from the end of the molecule most distant from the carboxylic acid group and which are found especially in fish (as tuna and salmon), fish oils, green leafy vegetables, and some vegetable oils
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