unsaturated fat

noun

plural unsaturated fats

: a fat (see fat entry 3 sense 2b) that contains a fatty acid (see fatty acid sense 2) molecule which has one or more double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, that is liquid at room temperature, and that is found in many plant sources (such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils) and some fish

Research connects consuming moderate amounts of unsaturated fats with a slew of health benefits, most notably, lower risk of premature death. Unsaturated fats can help boost good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol in your blood, which can lower your risk of heart disease or stroke …

—Cleveland Clinic

I found that brownies that contained mostly saturated fat (and thus lots of rigid carbon chains) baked up quite tender and not at all chewy, while brownies made with mostly unsaturated fat (and more flexible carbon chains) were the chewier ones.

—Andrea Geary

see also monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat compare saturated fat, trans fat

Examples of unsaturated fat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Avocados also provide heart-healthy unsaturated fats, antioxidants, and a range of vitamins and minerals.14 Spread avocado on whole-grain toast, make guacamole with veggie dippers, or mash it into a wrap for a quick, fiber-rich snack. 8. —Lindsey Desoto, Health, 9 Sep. 2025

The research, published in Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, found that women with Alzheimer’s disease had fewer unsaturated fats—especially the healthy ones like omega fatty acids—compared to women without Alzheimer’s. —Ashley J. Dimella, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2025

Other best practices Fram recommends to her patients include eating green leafy vegetables and unsaturated fats, which help support photoreceptors and tear film, respectively. —Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025

The process of seasoning involves heating up unsaturated fats, often high-heat oils like grape-seed oil or canola oil, atop a porous metal like carbon steel or cast iron. —Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 6 Aug. 2025

Opt for healthy unsaturated fats, such as avocado, olive oil, and fish. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 30 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unsaturated fat

• acrobat
• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat

Medical Definition

unsaturated fat

noun

: a fat (see fat entry 2 sense 2b) that contains a fatty acid (see fatty acid sense 2) molecule which has one or more double bonds in its hydrocarbon chain, that is liquid at room temperature, and that is found in many plant sources (such as nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils) and some fish

Foods from animal sources such as meat, milk, and eggs contain more saturated than unsaturated fats. Conversely, foods from vegetable sources such as the oils contain more unsaturated fat.

—Sue Rodwell Williams, Nutrition and Diet Therapy

"The data suggest that any oil that's high in unsaturated fats—whether it's polyunsaturated or monounsaturated—is associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease," says Alice Lichtenstein of the U.S. Department of Agriculture …

—Bonnie Liebman, Nutrition Action Health Letter

see also monounsaturated fat, polyunsaturated fat compare saturated fat, trans fat