suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət 

: the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow

Examples of suet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hanging bird feeders and suet cakes out in your garden is one way to help out birds that don't fly south in winter, such as cardinals and juncos. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Nov. 2025

And our spare fridge into a fridge for breast milk, and suet. —Ariel Dumas, New Yorker, 14 Nov. 2025

Meniscus augur & hour of errors as the mercury rag spills its rings from his last good pore, his teeth shaped in greenhouse suet or little expectant pots of orchid balm in snow. —Michael D. Snediker, The Atlantic, 10 Aug. 2025

Create a backyard oasis with any of these suet feeders, hanging bird bath and feeder combos, hummingbird feeders (which even include a handheld ring feeder!), and more. —Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 27 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sewet, from Anglo-French suet, siuet, from seu, su hard animal fat, from Latin sebum

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət 

: the hard fat around the kidneys in beef and mutton from which tallow is made

Medical Definition

suet

noun

su·​et ˈsü-ət 

: the hard fat about the kidneys and loins in beef and mutton that yields tallow and that in prepared form is used in some pharmaceutical ointments