saponify

verb

sa·​pon·​i·​fy sə-ˈpä-nə-ˌfī 

saponified; saponifying

transitive verb

: to convert (something, such as fat) into soap

specifically : to hydrolyze (a fat) with alkali to form a soap and glycerol

intransitive verb

: to undergo saponifying

saponifiable

sə-ˈpä-nə-ˌfī-ə-bəl 

adjective

saponifier

sə-ˈpä-nə-ˌfī(-ə)r 

noun

Examples of saponify in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Although rare to find, cerebral tissues found in archaeological discoveries have saponified, the process by which triglycerides turn into glycerol and fatty acid salts, or soap. —Fox News, 24 Jan. 2020

Beauty products include deodorant cream made with local California sagebrush and arrowroot, as well as the cleansing version of your favorite latte: a golden milk soap saponified with raw goat milk, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper, and ginger. —Dakota Kim, Sunset Magazine, 10 Feb. 2020

Made out of a formula that was discovered loosely placed in an old New England Cookbook, this all-natural shampoo bar is made of just three ingredients: saponified olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. —Popular Science, 29 Jan. 2020

Word History

Etymology

French saponifier, from Latin sapon-, sapo

First Known Use

1821, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Medical Definition

saponify

verb

sa·​pon·​i·​fy sə-ˈpän-ə-ˌfī 

saponified; saponifying

transitive verb

: to convert (as a fat or fatty acid) into soap : subject to saponification

intransitive verb

: to undergo saponification