Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

steatopygia

noun ste·a·to·py·gia \ ˌstē-a-tə-ˈpi-j(ē-)ə , -ˈpī- \

Definition of steatopygia

: an excessive development of fat on the buttocks that occurs chiefly among women of some African peoples and especially the Khoisan
—

steatopygous

play \ˌstē-a-tə-ˈpi-gəs, -ˈpī-\ or steatopygic play \ˌstē-ə-ˈtä-pə-jik, -tə-ˈpī-jik\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of steatopygia

New Latin, from steat-, stear + Greek pygē buttocks

Medical Dictionary

steatopygia

noun ste·ato·py·gia \ ˌstē-ət-ə-ˈpij-ē-ə also stē-ˌat-ō-, -ˈpī-j(ē-)ə \

medical Definition of steatopygia

: an accumulation of a large amount of fat on the buttocks
—

steatopygous

play \-ˈpī-gəs\ or steatopygic \-ˈpij-ik also -ˈpī-jik\ adjective

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up steatopygia? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

effigy

play

a figure representing a hated person

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. asylum 'protection from arrest and extradition given especially to political refugees'

  2. insubordinate 'disobedient to authority'

  3. promulgate 'to make known by open declaration'

  4. epochal 'momentous or unparalleled'

  5. clemency 'merciful treatment of someone who could be given harsh punishment'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

steatopygia

Test Your Vocabulary

Words for Summer: A Quiz

  • a-closeup-of-a-sunflower
  • Which of the following words means “of or relating to summer”?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games