cellulite

American  

[sel-yuh-lahyt, -leet] / ˈsɛl yəˌlaɪt, -ˌlit /

noun

1. lumpy fat deposits, especially in the thighs and buttocks.

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cellulite British  

/ ˈsɛljʊˌlaɪt /

noun

1. a name sometimes given to subcutaneous fat alleged to resist dieting

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cellulite Cultural  

1. A popular term for fat that is difficult to remove by dieting and that often has a dimpled appearance. There is no physiological difference between cellulite and ordinary fat.

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Etymology

Origin of cellulite

First recorded in 1970–75; from French: literally, “formation of fatty deposits under the skin,” originally, “cellulitis,” equivalent to cellule cell + -ite “-itis” (a suffix indicating inflammation) but taken in English as -ite ¹ (a suffix indicating part of the body); see cellule, -itis, -ite ¹

Compare meaning

How does cellulite compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• cellulitis vs. cellulite

Example Sentences

Some of Javice’s legal expenses, like cellulite butter, were already made public during a court hearing last month, but Monday’s filing details a wide-ranging list of charges the bank takes issue with.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 22, 2025

Some claimed GPs dismissed symptoms as a "severe bout of cellulite", "growing pains", obesity and arthritis.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2025

Anyone standing next to me would have seen flat abs, slim thighs; to me, the reflection still showed cellulite and chubby cheeks.

From Slate • Jul. 20, 2024

Sitting in the aromatherapy sauna at Olympic Spa, I realized how normal I suddenly looked: somewhere between one breast size and another, with some cellulite and scar tissue matched by some and not others.

From Salon • May 6, 2023

He pressed a pump that dispensed cellulite gel and massaged it into the back of his ungloved hand.

From "Interpreter of Maladies" by Jhumpa Lahiri

Related Words

• flesh