lipid

noun

lip·​id ˈli-pəd How to pronounce lipid (audio)
variants or less commonly lipide
: any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents (such as chloroform and ether), that are usually insoluble in water, that with proteins and carbohydrates constitute the principal structural components of living cells, and that include fats, waxes, phospholipids, cerebrosides, and related and derived compounds
lipidic adjective

Examples of lipid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Doctors typically combine fasting glucose, hemoglobin A1C, fasting insulin and a lipid profile, then add more specific tools like HOMA-IR or a Lipoprotein Insulin Resistance score when the picture warrants a closer look. Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026 The oil-free eye cream contains three essential ceramides (NP, AP, and EOP), which help restore the skin barrier with lipids found naturally in the skin. Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 June 2026 Choosing fiber-rich carbohydrates may help support healthy blood sugar and blood lipid levels. Jillian Kubala, Health, 29 May 2026 Emollients sink into the skin to fill in all those tiny gaps, repairing the lipid barrier so your face feels soft, flexible, and smooth instead of rough and itchy. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lipid

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lipid was in 1925

Cite this Entry

“Lipid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lipid. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

lipid

noun
lip·​id ˈlip-əd How to pronounce lipid (audio)
: any of various substances (as fats and waxes) that with proteins and carbohydrates make up the principal structural parts of living cells

Medical Definition

lipid

noun
lip·​id ˈlip-əd How to pronounce lipid (audio)
variants also lipide
: any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents (as chloroform and ether), that with proteins and carbohydrates constitute the principal structural components of living cells, and that include fats, waxes, phospholipids, cerebrosides, and related and derived compounds

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