flab: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal, slightly humorous
Quick answer
What does “flab” mean?
Soft, loose body fat, especially excess fat noticeable due to lack of muscle tone.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Soft, loose body fat, especially excess fat noticeable due to lack of muscle tone.
Can be used metaphorically to describe any soft, loose, or excess material or an unnecessary, inefficient part of an organization or system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is used identically in both varieties. The main difference is in the common collocations and prevalence of certain fitness-related terms in each culture.
Connotations
Slightly more common in UK media and casual conversation, but perfectly standard in US English. In the US, it might be considered slightly more blunt or humorous.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in both, appearing in lifestyle, health, and informal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “flab” in a Sentence
have + (a bit of) + flabget rid of + flabshake off + flabbe covered in + flabVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “flab” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm trying to flab-bust with some new exercises.
American English
- This workout is designed to flab-blast your core.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form from 'flab'.
American English
- Not applicable. No standard adverbial form from 'flab'.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable. The adjective is 'flabby'.
American English
- Not applicable. The adjective is 'flabby'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically for inefficient parts of a company (e.g., 'We need to trim the flab from our middle management.').
Academic
Virtually never used in formal academic writing, except perhaps in informal speech within sports science or physiology discussions.
Everyday
Common in conversations about fitness, diet, health, and body image (e.g., 'I need to lose this flab after lockdown.').
Technical
Not a technical medical term; specialists use 'adipose tissue' or 'subcutaneous fat'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “flab”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “flab”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “flab”
- Using it as a countable noun (*'I have two flabs on my stomach').
- Using it in overly formal contexts where 'fat' or 'adipose tissue' is required.
- Confusing 'flab' (noun) with 'flabby' (adjective).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is informal and can be seen as blunt or mildly critical, especially when describing someone else's body. It's generally safe for self-reference or in humorous, consensual contexts among friends.
'Fat' is a neutral, broad term. 'Flab' specifically implies soft, loose, and often excess fat that lacks firmness, carrying a more negative and informal tone.
Yes, metaphorically. It can describe unnecessary or inefficient parts of an organization, system, or piece of writing (e.g., 'trim the flab from the report').
The adjective is 'flabby' (e.g., flabby arms, flabby organization). 'Flab' itself is only a noun.
Soft, loose body fat, especially excess fat noticeable due to lack of muscle tone.
Flab is usually informal, slightly humorous in register.
Flab: in British English it is pronounced /flæb/, and in American English it is pronounced /flæb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Shake off the festive flab.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of FLAB as **F**at **L**oose **A**nd **B**aggy.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXCESS IS SUPERFLUOUS MATERIAL (to be trimmed/cut/shaken off). THE BODY IS A MACHINE (that needs tuning).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'flab' be LEAST appropriate?