Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Containing a relatively small amount of calories; designed to be low in calories. This word describes food or drink products that have been formulated or processed to have fewer calories than their standard versions.

Usage

• The adjective "low-cal" is used directly before a noun to describe it.
  • She ordered a low-cal salad dressing.
  • Many people choose low-cal snacks for weight management.
• It can also be used after a linking verb like "is" or "are."
  • This yogurt is low-cal.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Low-cal" as a marketing term: The term is commonly used in food marketing and labeling to appeal to consumers seeking to reduce their calorie intake.
  • The product's packaging prominently features the word "low-cal" to attract dieters.

Variants and Related Words

• Low-calorie (adj): This is the full, non-hyphenated form with the same meaning. "Low-cal" is an informal, shortened version.
  • A low-calorie diet is often recommended by doctors.
• Low-fat (adj): Having a reduced fat content. Note: A "low-fat" product is not necessarily "low-cal," and vice-versa.
• Diet (adj): Formulated to be low in calories or suitable for a specific diet. Often used interchangeably with "low-cal" for drinks (e.g., diet soda).

Synonyms

• Light / Lite (adj): Often used synonymously on food labels to indicate lower calorie or fat content.
• Reduced-calorie (adj): A more formal term indicating the product has at least 25% fewer calories than the regular version.

Antonyms

• High-calorie (adj): Containing a large amount of calories.
• Calorie-dense (adj): Having a high number of calories relative to weight or volume.

Adjective

1. having relatively few calories
   • diet cola
   • light (or lite) beer
   • lite (or light) mayonnaise
   • a low-cal diet