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. )

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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

Last year, a fatberg weighing roughly the same as three double-decker buses was cleared from an east London sewer.

From BBC ● Feb. 9, 2025

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

From Washington Post ● May 20, 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

Sidmouth, which counts only around 13,000 people as permanent residents, was not considered a prime fatberg target.

From New York Times ● Oct. 4, 2019

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