saturated

adjective

sat·​u·​rat·​ed ˈsa-chə-ˌrā-təd 

1

: full of moisture : made thoroughly wet

a saturated sponge

2

a

of a solution : unable to absorb or dissolve any more of a solute at a given temperature and pressure

If more material is added to a saturated solution, no further dissolving will take place. The extra material will simply settle to the bottom of the solution.

—Merill C. Fellger

b

: having no double or triple bonds between carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon chain

—used especially of an oil, fat, or fatty acid

saturated fatty acids

see also saturated fat compare unsaturated sense b

3

of a color : having high saturation (see saturation sense 4) : pure

The early spring sky is a deep saturated blue next to the muddy brown of the dry, scrubby hills …

—Sonia Shaw

Synonyms of saturated

• dripping
• bathed
• saturate
• soaked
• wet
• flooded
• washed
• soaking

Examples of saturated in a Sentence

His shirt was saturated with sweat.

the area's already saturated freeways

Recent Examples on the Web

Both butter and margarine have a combination of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. — Rosemary Trout, Scientific American, 27 June 2026

Avocados Avocados pack a variety of healthy unsaturated fats, especially monounsaturated—the same type found in olive oil—with very little saturated fat. — Matt Fuchs, Time, 26 June 2026

Why re-enter the hustle and grind of building a beauty brand from the ground up, particularly in 2022, when the market had become so saturated? — Rachel Burchfield, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

Fried foods contain saturated fats, which can clog your arteries, as well as sodium, which can directly raise blood pressure. — Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 25 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1728, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing saturated

• saturated fat

Rhymes for saturated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated

Kids Definition

saturated

adjective

sat·​u·​rat·​ed

ˈsach-ə-ˌrāt-əd

1

: full of moisture

2

a

: being a mixture that is unable to absorb or dissolve any more of a substance at a given temperature and pressure

b

: being a carbon compound having no double or triple bonds between carbon atoms

saturated fats

Medical Definition

saturated

adjective

sat·​u·​rat·​ed ˈsach-ə-ˌrāt-əd 

1

of a solution : unable to absorb or dissolve any more of a solute at a given temperature and pressure

2

: having no double or triple bonds between carbon atoms in a hydrocarbon chain

—used especially of an oil, fat, or fatty acid

coconut oil is a saturated oil

see also saturated fat compare unsaturated sense b