light meat: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, Culinary
Quick answer
What does “light meat” mean?
The pale-coloured meat from poultry such as chicken or turkey, specifically the breast and wing meat, as opposed to the darker leg and thigh meat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The pale-coloured meat from poultry such as chicken or turkey, specifically the breast and wing meat, as opposed to the darker leg and thigh meat.
A culinary term used to categorize poultry cuts by colour and texture, often associated with milder flavour, lower fat content, and quicker cooking times.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both terms are understood and used in both varieties. 'White meat' is arguably more frequent in both, but 'light meat' is standard culinary terminology. In the UK, 'brown meat' is a rare alternative to 'dark meat'.
Connotations
Neutral culinary descriptor. No significant difference in connotation between varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more common in written culinary contexts (recipes, menus) than in everyday spoken language in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “light meat” in a Sentence
prefer X to Yserve X with YX is leaner than YVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “light meat” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not applicable as an adjective. It is a compound noun.
American English
- Not applicable as an adjective. It is a compound noun.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the food industry, catering, and restaurant menus.
Academic
Rare; might appear in nutritional or food science texts.
Everyday
Common in home cooking, discussions about food preferences, and at meal times.
Technical
Standard term in butchery, culinary arts, and recipe writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “light meat”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “light meat”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “light meat”
- Using 'white meat' to refer to all non-red meat (like pork) instead of specifically poultry breast/wing meat. Confusing 'light' for 'low-fat' in a general sense, rather than the specific culinary category.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the context of poultry, yes, they are essentially synonyms. 'Light meat' is often used in direct contrast to 'dark meat'.
No, it refers to the breast and wing meat of any poultry, including turkey, duck, and goose, though duck and goose breast is often darker than chicken/turkey breast.
It comes from muscles used less frequently (breast/wings for flightless birds), which contain less myoglobin, an oxygen-storing protein that gives meat a darker colour.
It is generally leaner and has slightly less fat and calories, but dark meat contains more iron, zinc, and certain vitamins. Both are part of a healthy diet.
The pale-coloured meat from poultry such as chicken or turkey, specifically the breast and wing meat, as opposed to the darker leg and thigh meat.
Light meat is usually informal, culinary in register.
Light meat: in British English it is pronounced /laɪt miːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /laɪt miːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'light' as in 'light colour' – the meat that is lighter in colour (like the chicken breast) is the 'light meat'.
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOUR FOR CATEGORY (Light/Dark colours map onto categories of food).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'light meat' most specifically and correctly used?