Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
×

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

steatopygia

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

Definition of steatopygia

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

steatopygous

play play \-gəs\ or

steatopygic

play play \ˌstē-ə-ˈtä-pə-jik, -tə-ˈpī-jik\ adjective

People Are Reading

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz
alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail
alt-597233d35a146
Trending: 'Scaramouch,' Scaramucci Possibly to Fandango
image386126722
Words That Come From the Dinner Table

Origin and Etymology of steatopygia

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

Medical Dictionary

steatopygia

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

Medical Definition of steatopygia

  1. :  an accumulation of a large amount of fat on the buttocks

steatopygous

\-ˈpī-gəs\play or

steatopygic

\-ˈpij-ik also -ˈpī-jik\play 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

haphazard

play

marked by lack of plan or order

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. scaramouch A new White House communications director

  2. non sequitur “It does not follow”

  3. admiral's mast A massive search ends with an 'admiral's mast'.

  4. calumny 'An untrue statement that is made to damage someone's reputation'

  5. kakistocracy Frustrated Twitter users have been searching for this word.

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

steatopygia

Test Your Vocabulary

The Emoji Quiz

  • emoji-the-quiz
  • What phase of the moon is this: 🌖 ?
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

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

alt-59721dd897313
The 'Best' Way to Sign Off On An E-mail

Give them your best

image386126722
Words and Phrases That Come from the Dinner Table

Fill your plate with these surprising food words

ghost-being-disinvited-from-party
'Disinvite' or 'Uninvite'?

A disinvited guest is an uninvited problem

alt-596f730ceb5ae
Words We're Watching: 'Scoby'

Kombucha lovers unite.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066
Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

emoji-the-quiz
The Emoji Quiz

Think you’re an emoji 👓 expert? Let’s see 🤔

Take the quiz
image941935269
A Game of Thrones Word Quiz

In the Game of Thrones quiz, you learn some new vocabulary. (It’s quite safe, really. You will not die.)

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
Word Winder's CrossWinder
Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game