cultivated meat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Technical, Academic, Business, Journalistic
Quick answer
What does “cultivated meat” mean?
Animal meat produced by directly culturing animal cells in a controlled, lab-like environment, without raising and slaughtering entire animals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Animal meat produced by directly culturing animal cells in a controlled, lab-like environment, without raising and slaughtering entire animals.
A food technology product, also seen as a potential solution for sustainable protein production, ethical concerns in food systems, and reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. It falls under the broader categories of alternative proteins, cellular agriculture, and food innovation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in concept. Spelling follows standard norms (e.g., 'labour' vs. 'labor' in surrounding text). The term 'cultivated' is the emerging global standard, though synonyms like 'lab-grown' may appear slightly more in UK media.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of science, futurism, and sustainability. In some conservative or traditionalist discourses, it may have negative connotations of being 'unnatural' or 'processed'.
Frequency
Low-to-medium frequency, increasing in food tech, environmental, and business publications. Higher frequency in Singapore, the US, and Israel where regulatory approval is advanced.
Grammar
How to Use “cultivated meat” in a Sentence
[Subject: Company/Researcher] + [Verb: produces/develops] + cultivated meat + [from: from animal cells].Cultivated meat + [Verb: is grown/cultured] + [in: in a bioreactor].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cultivated meat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team aims to cultivate meat that is indistinguishable from its traditional counterpart.
- They are cultivating meat from a biopsy taken from a prize-winning Angus cow.
American English
- The company plans to cultivate meat at a commercial scale within five years.
- Scientists successfully cultivated meat using a novel serum-free medium.
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable. 'Cultivated' is not used as an adverb modifying 'meat'.]
American English
- [Not applicable. 'Cultivated' is not used as an adverb modifying 'meat'.]
adjective
British English
- The cultivated-meat sector is attracting significant venture capital.
- They attended a conference on cultivated-meat technologies.
American English
- The cultivated meat industry faces key regulatory milestones.
- He is a leading expert in cultivated meat research.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Focus on investment, scaling, market potential, and regulatory hurdles. 'The startup secured series B funding to build its first cultivated meat pilot plant.'
Academic
Focus on scientific processes, life cycle assessments, and ethical implications. 'The study compared the myoglobin expression in cultivated meat to that of traditional bovine tissue.'
Everyday
Explaining the concept simply, often focusing on benefits. 'Have you heard about that new cultivated meat they're making from cells? It's supposed to be better for the planet.'
Technical
Detailed descriptions of bioprocesses, scaffolds, and cell lines. 'The differentiation protocol for the bovine satellite cells into adipocytes is critical for cultivated meat marbling.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cultivated meat”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cultivated meat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cultivated meat”
- Using 'cultured meat' to refer to meat from an animal with a refined upbringing (e.g., 'cultured beef' from a Wagyu cow).
- Confusing it with plant-based meat substitutes like Impossible Burger or Beyond Meat.
- Incorrectly capitalising it as a proper noun (Cultivated Meat) unless at the start of a sentence or in a title.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not considered vegan as it is derived from animal cells, requiring an initial animal biopsy. However, it is often marketed to flexitarians and those reducing meat consumption for ethical or environmental reasons.
Early prototypes aim to replicate the taste, texture, and nutritional profile of conventional meat. Reviews suggest it is very close, but perfect replication, especially of complex structures like steak, is an ongoing challenge.
Producers and regulators state that because it is grown in a sterile, controlled environment, it has the potential to be safer by avoiding risks like bacterial contamination from slaughter, antibiotics, and hormones. It undergoes rigorous food safety approvals (like in Singapore and the US) before sale.
The industry is moving to 'cultivated meat' as a more accurate and consumer-friendly term. 'Lab-grown' implies a small-scale, experimental product, whereas 'cultivated' describes the core process (cell cultivation) and aligns better with large-scale, future food production, similar to cultivating crops.
Animal meat produced by directly culturing animal cells in a controlled, lab-like environment, without raising and slaughtering entire animals.
Cultivated meat is usually formal, technical, academic, business, journalistic in register.
Cultivated meat: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltɪveɪtɪd miːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltɪveɪt̬ɪd miːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this phrase. It is a technical compound noun.]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'cultivating' a plant in a garden, but instead you're 'cultivating' meat cells in a lab. It's farmed, but at a cellular level.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEAT IS A CROP (that can be harvested from cell cultures). SCIENCE IS A KITCHEN (where food is engineered).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a key distinction between cultivated meat and a plant-based meat alternative?