Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Containing no fat or fat solids: Describes a food product or substance from which all fat has been removed or which is naturally devoid of fat.
   • Nonfat: A synonym, often used interchangeably on food labels to indicate a product meets specific regulatory standards for fat content.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • This yogurt is labeled as fat-free.
  • For a healthier diet, she chooses fat-free salad dressings.
  • The recipe calls for fat-free milk.

Advanced Usage

• As a marketing or nutritional term: "Fat-free" is a regulated label claim in many countries, meaning the product contains less than a specified amount of fat per serving (e.g., less than 0.5 grams of fat per serving in the US).
  • Many "fat-free" snacks are high in sugar to compensate for flavor.

Variants and Related Words

• Nonfat (adj): Having no fat; essentially synonymous with "fat-free."
  • nonfat Greek yogurt
• Low-fat (adj): Containing a reduced amount of fat, but not entirely fat-free.
• Fat-free can be part of compound adjectives like fat-free cheese or fat-free cream. These are specific product types, not variants of the word itself.

Synonyms

• Nonfat
• Skim (specifically for milk: )

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically refers to the absence of fat content. It does not inherently mean the product is low in calories or sugar.
• In a figurative or informal context, it is rarely used outside of describing food or bodily substances.

Adjective

1. without fat or fat solids
   • nonfat or fat-free milk