subcutaneous

adjective

sub·​cu·​ta·​ne·​ous ˌsəb-kyu̇-ˈtā-nē-əs 

: being, living, occurring, or administered under the skin

subcutaneous parasites

subcutaneous tissues

subcutaneously adverb

Examples of subcutaneous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Per the company, the scan assesses visceral fat (which accumulates around and within internal organs), subcutaneous fat (stored just beneath the skin), liver fat, muscle volume and abdominal organ volume. —Erin Brodwin, Axios, 13 Feb. 2025

Administered as a once-weekly subcutaneous injection, Ozempic not only helps control blood glucose levels but also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack or stroke, in adults with type 2 diabetes and established heart disease. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025

In addition, the subcutaneous delivery of apomorphine bypasses the GI tract and enters the brain, which can allow for more predictable symptom improvement. —New Atlas, 4 Feb. 2025

Fracture blisters are more likely to form where the skin attaches more tightly to the bone in areas of the body with minimal subcutaneous fat, such as the elbow, foot, or wrist. —Laura Schober, Health, 27 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin subcutaneus, from Latin sub- + cutis skin — more at hide entry 2

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for subcutaneous

• miscellaneous
• percutaneous
• simultaneous
• subterraneous
• transcutaneous
• contemporaneous
• extemporaneous
• intracutaneous
• mucocutaneous
• extraneous
• spontaneous
• lanius

Kids Definition

subcutaneous

adjective

sub·​cu·​ta·​ne·​ous ˌsəb-kyu̇-ˈtā-nē-əs 

: being, living, occurring, or given under the skin

subcutaneous parasites

Medical Definition

subcutaneous

adjective

sub·​cu·​ta·​ne·​ous ˌsəb-kyu̇-ˈtā-nē-əs 

: being, living, used, or made under the skin

subcutaneous parasites

subcutaneously adverb