fatberg

American  

[fat-burg] / ˈfæt bɜrg /

noun

1. a solid lump in a sewer system consisting of waste that does not break down, as congealed cooking fat, cleansing wipes, and cotton balls.

   Cities must deal with the growing problem of large and small fatbergs that cause sewage backups and street flooding.

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Etymology

Origin of fatberg

First recorded in 2000–05; fat ( def. ) (in the sense “greasy substance”) + (ice)berg ( def. )

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fatberg

"So they stay in one piece, and they gather together with fat, oil, and grease from kitchens, congeal and create a fatberg which causes flooding."

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025

Q. How did Swedish plumbers respond to news of Stockholm’s fatberg?

From Washington Post ● May 20, 2021

Workers trying to remove a huge fatberg clogging a Birmingham sewer hope high-pressure jets will tackle the "horrible, gunky mess".

From BBC ● May 2, 2021

Combined with fat and grease that has been tipped down sinks, it is already starting to build up into a fatberg.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 20, 2019

“It was my first time analyzing a fatberg, and when you smell it, you think this is going to be the last time because the smell was honking,” Professor Love said.

From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2019