unsaturated fat

noun

plural unsaturated fats

: a fat (see fat entry 3 sense 2b) that contains a fatty acid (see fatty acid sense 2) molecule which has one or more double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, that is liquid at room temperature, and that is found in many plant sources (such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils) and some fish

Research connects consuming moderate amounts of unsaturated fats with a slew of health benefits, most notably, lower risk of premature death. Unsaturated fats can help boost good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol in your blood, which can lower your risk of heart disease or stroke …

—Cleveland Clinic

I found that brownies that contained mostly saturated fat (and thus lots of rigid carbon chains) baked up quite tender and not at all chewy, while brownies made with mostly unsaturated fat (and more flexible carbon chains) were the chewier ones.

—Andrea Geary

see also monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat compare saturated fat, trans fat

Examples of unsaturated fat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Olive oil, avocado, nuts, and seeds all contain unsaturated fats that support heart health.5 These fats can lower bad cholesterol and reduce inflammation.6 Many comfort foods have the potential to replace unhealthy fats. —Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025

Avocados are packed with vitamins, minerals, and unsaturated fats. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2025

Saturated fatty acids – like PA – tend to promote inflammation and oxidative stress, while unsaturated fats like OA support cleaner energy production and longer cell survival. —New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2025

Instead of saturated fat, the current guidelines encourage eating foods that are high in unsaturated fat, including nuts, avocados and olive oil, which are linked to lower cardiovascular risk. —Will Stone, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025

Better Control of Cholesterol Seed oils are rich in unsaturated fats. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 30 Sep. 2025

While the study did suggest women with Alzheimer’s had lower levels of some unsaturated fats compared to men, further research is needed, according to Dr. Julia Dudley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsaturated fat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat

Medical Definition

unsaturated fat

noun

: a fat (see fat entry 2 sense 2b) that contains a fatty acid (see fatty acid sense 2) molecule which has one or more double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, that is liquid at room temperature, and that is found in many plant sources (such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils) and some fish

Foods from animal sources such as meat, milk, and eggs contain more saturated than unsaturated fats. Conversely, foods from vegetable sources such as the oils contain more unsaturated fat.

—Sue Rodwell Williams, Nutrition and Diet Therapy

"The data suggest that any oil that's high in unsaturated fats—whether it's polyunsaturated or monounsaturated—is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease," says Alice Lichtenstein of the U.S. Department of Agriculture …

—Bonnie Liebman, Nutrition Action Health Letter

see also monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat compare saturated fat, trans fat