obesity
Americannoun
Other Word Forms
- antiobesity adjective
- overobesity noun
Etymology
Origin of obesity
First recorded in 1605–15; from Middle French obésité, from Latin obēsitāt-, stem of obēsitās, equivalent to obēs(us) obese ( def. ) + -i- ( def. ) + -tās -ty 2 ( def. )
Compare meaning
How does obesity compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
People who carry variations in two genes linked to appetite and digestion can lose more weight when taking drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro to treat obesity, research suggests.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
These medications have reshaped how obesity and the overweight are treated and opened the door to a new scientific field that’s assessing GLP-1s for everything from osteoarthritis to alcohol addiction.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
While Morgan Stanley is broadly constructive on the development of obesity medications, the haves and have-nots in the industry are beginning to emerge.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
Rival Eli Lilly began shipping its own obesity pill in the U.S. on Monday.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026
By the time the boy-Human returned from battle camp, I had received excellent news: The Flabby Tabby was completely healthy, morbid obesity aside.
From "Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat" by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.