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 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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• flesh