bad cholesterol

noun

: a lipoprotein of blood plasma that is associated with increased probability of developing atherosclerosis : ldl

The two-year study of 507 patients is the most ambitious yet to test whether driving down bad cholesterol turns back the clock on plaque buildup in coronary arteries.

—Steve Sternberg

A growing body of research suggests that atherosclerosis probably traces to oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, the so-called bad cholesterol.

—Janet Raloff

compare good cholesterol

Examples of bad cholesterol in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Key Takeaways Eating oatmeal for two days can cut bad cholesterol by about 10%. — Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 9 Feb. 2026

One of the reasons this program is so important to Merloni is that bad cholesterol runs in his family. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026

Such fats are common in red meat and contribute to increasing bad cholesterol levels, hardening the blood vessels and, in turn, raising the risk of heart attack or stroke. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2026

That is why a blood test known as apolipoprotein B, which measures the number of cholesterol particles, is a better predictor of risk for heart disease than measurements of total amounts of bad cholesterol. — Mary J. Scourboutakos, The Conversation, 19 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1977, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bad cholesterol

• chloramphenicol
• dithiothreitol
• geospatial
• isopropanol
• paracetamol
• peroxisomal
• visuospatial
• aerosol
• alcohol
• arbitral
• basketball
• butanol

Medical Definition

bad cholesterol

noun

ˈbad- 

: ldl