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

Cellulite is a permanent change in the fat stored under the skin and it is inevitable in most women.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2017

Cellulite affects people of all sizes because everyone has fat cells.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2017

Among those early Bret�chers were Turnips in the Cosmos, a sci-fi epic, and Cellulite, the saga of a husband-hunting medieval princess.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cellulite cannot be burned off by conventional diets, says Ronsard; even when poundage is pared away, this "superfat" remains.

From Time Magazine Archive

Cellulite is the cottage-cheesy look of the skin above the fat layer many women find on their hips, thighs and derriere.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• flesh