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Thick vs. Fat — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 30, 2023
Thick describes an object's considerable extent from one surface to its opposite, while fat refers to having excess flesh, often related to body weight.
Thick vs. Fat — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Thick and Fat

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Key Differences

Thick is often used to describe the dimension of something from one side to another, indicating a substantial depth or width. Fat, however, is commonly used to describe an excess of flesh on a body, often implying overweight or plumpness.
Thick can refer to a variety of objects, substances, or even concepts, such as a thick book, thick fog, or thick accent, emphasizing the density or compactness. Fat is primarily associated with living beings, particularly humans and animals, and it emphasizes the presence of excess body weight or adipose tissue.
While thick can have a neutral or even positive connotation depending on the context, such as a thick slice of cake or thick, luxurious hair, fat often carries a negative connotation, especially when referring to body size or health.
In some contexts, thick can be used to describe people, often focusing on specific body parts being substantial or sturdy. On the other hand, calling someone fat usually implies an overall bodily condition and can be perceived as derogatory or offensive.

Comparison Chart

Primary Usage

Describes dimension or density
Refers to excess body weight
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Context

Used for objects, substances, ideas
Mainly used for living beings

Connotation

Can be neutral or positive
Often negative

Application

Broad (books, fog, accents)
Narrow (bodies, food)

Body Reference

Can refer to specific body parts
Implies overall bodily condition

Compare with Definitions

Thick

Having a large distance between opposite sides.
She cut a thick slice of bread.

Fat

Having a lot of excess flesh.
The cat grew fat over the winter.

Thick

Dense or closely packed.
The forest was thick with trees.

Fat

The natural oily substance occurring in animal bodies.
The recipe calls for duck fat.

Thick

Not flowing easily, viscous.
The sauce was too thick to pour.

Fat

In nutrition, biology, and chemistry, fat usually means any ester of fatty acids, or a mixture of such compounds, most commonly those that occur in living beings or in food.The term often refers specifically to triglycerides (triple esters of glycerol), that are the main components of vegetable oils and of fatty tissue in animals; or, even more narrowly, to triglycerides that are solid or semisolid at room temperature, thus excluding oils. The term may also be used more broadly as a synonym of lipid—any substance of biological relevance, composed of carbon, hydrogen, or oxygen, that is insoluble in water but soluble in non-polar solvents.

Thick

Substantial in quantity.
The air was thick with tension.

Fat

A natural oily substance occurring in animal bodies, especially when deposited as a layer under the skin or around certain organs
Whales and seals insulate themselves with layers of fat

Thick

With opposite sides or surfaces that are far or relatively far apart
The walls are 5 feet thick
Thick slices of bread
Thick metal cables

Fat

Any of a group of natural esters of glycerol and various fatty acids, which are solid at room temperature and are the main constituents of animal and vegetable fat
Some 40 per cent of our daily calories are derived from dietary fats

Thick

Made up of a large number of things or people close together
The road winds through thick forest
His hair was long and thick

Fat

(of a person or animal) having a large amount of excess flesh
The driver was a fat wheezing man

Thick

(of a liquid or a semi-liquid substance) relatively firm in consistency; not flowing freely
Thick mud

Fat

Large in bulk or circumference
A fat cigarette

Thick

Of low intelligence; stupid
He's a bit thick

Fat

Make or become fat
The hogs have been fatting
Numbers of black cattle are fatted here

Thick

(of a voice) not clear or distinct; hoarse or husky
Guy's voice was thick with desire
A snarling thick voice

Fat

The ester of glycerol and one, two, or three fatty acids.

Thick

Having a very close, friendly relationship
He's very thick with the new master

Fat

Any of various soft, solid, or semisolid organic compounds constituting the esters of glycerol and fatty acids and their associated organic groups.

Thick

The most active or crowded part of something
We were in the thick of the battle

Fat

A mixture of such compounds occurring widely in organic tissue, especially in the adipose tissue of animals and in the seeds, nuts, and fruits of plants.

Thick

In or with deep, dense, or heavy mass
Bread spread thick with butter

Fat

Animal tissue containing such substances.

Thick

Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension; not thin
A thick board.

Fat

A solidified animal or vegetable oil.

Thick

Measuring a specified number of units in this dimension
Two inches thick.

Fat

Obesity; corpulence
Health risks associated with fat.

Thick

Heavy in form, build, or stature; thickset
A thick neck.

Fat

Unnecessary excess
"would drain the appropriation's fat without cutting into education's muscle" (New York Times).

Thick

Having component parts in a close, crowded state or arrangement; dense
A thick forest.

Fat

Having much or too much fat or flesh; plump or obese.

Thick

Having or suggesting a heavy or viscous consistency
Thick tomato sauce.

Fat

Full of fat or oil; greasy.

Thick

Having a great number; abounding
A room thick with flies.

Fat

Abounding in desirable elements
A paycheck fat with bonus money.

Thick

Impenetrable by the eyes
A thick fog.

Fat

Fertile or productive; rich
"It was a fine, green, fat landscape" (Robert Louis Stevenson).

Thick

Hard to hear or understand, as from being husky or slurred
Thick speech.

Fat

Having an abundance or amplitude; well-stocked
A fat larder.

Thick

Very noticeable; pronounced
Has a thick accent.

Fat

Yielding profit or plenty; lucrative or rewarding
A fat promotion.

Thick

(Informal) Lacking mental agility; stupid.

Fat

Prosperous; wealthy
Grew fat on illegal profits.

Thick

(Informal) Very friendly; intimate
Thick friends.

Fat

Thick; large
A fat book.

Thick

(Informal) Going beyond what is tolerable; excessive.

Fat

Puffed up; swollen
A fat lip.

Thick

In a thick manner; deeply or heavily
Seashells lay thick on the beach.

Fat

To make or become fat; fatten.

Thick

In a close, compact state or arrangement; densely
Dozens of braids hung thick from the back of her head.

Fat

Carrying more fat than usual on one's body; plump; not lean or thin.
The fat man had trouble getting through the door.
The fattest pig should yield the most meat.

Thick

So as to be thick; thickly
Slice the bread thick for the best French toast.

Fat

Thick; large.
The fat wallets of the men from the city brought joy to the peddlers.

Thick

The thickest part.

Fat

Bulbous; rotund.

Thick

The most active or intense part
In the thick of the fighting.

Fat

Bountiful.

Thick

Relatively great in extent from one surface to the opposite in its smallest solid dimension.

Fat

Oily; greasy; unctuous; rich said of food.

Thick

Measuring a certain number of units in this dimension.
I want some planks that are two inches thick.

Fat

(obsolete) Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull; stupid.

Thick

Heavy in build; thickset.
He had such a thick neck that he had to turn his body to look to the side.

Fat

Fertile; productive.
A fat soil; a fat pasture

Thick

Densely crowded or packed.
We walked through thick undergrowth.

Fat

Rich; producing a large income; desirable.
A fat benefice; a fat office;
A fat job

Thick

Having a viscous consistency.
My mum’s gravy was thick but at least it moved about.

Fat

Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate.

Thick

Abounding in number.
The room was thick with reporters.

Fat

Of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.
A fat take; a fat page

Thick

Impenetrable to sight.
We drove through thick fog.

Fat

(golf) Being a shot in which the ground is struck before the ball.

Thick

(Of an accent) Prominent, strong.

Fat

(theatre) Of a role: significant; major; meaty.

Thick

Greatly evocative of one's nationality or place of origin.
He answered me in his characteristically thick Creole patois.

Fat

Alternative form of phat

Thick

Difficult to understand, or poorly articulated.
We had difficulty understanding him with his thick accent.

Fat

(uncountable) A specialized animal tissue with high lipid content, used for long-term storage of energy: fat tissue.
Mammals that hibernate have plenty of fat to keep them warm during the winter.

Thick

(informal) Stupid.
He was as thick as two short planks.

Fat

Such tissue as food: the fatty portion of (or trimmings from) meat cuts.
Ask the butcher for a few pounds of fat for our greens.

Thick

(informal) Friendly or intimate.
They were as thick as thieves.

Fat

(countable) A lipid that is solid at room temperature, which fat tissue contains and which is also found in the blood circulation; sometimes, a refined substance chemically resembling such naturally occurring lipids.
Dietary fat is not the evil that it was once misapprehended to be; carbs are increasingly recognized as a bigger driver of atherosclerosis via chronic insulin resistance and the vascular processes that cascade from it.

Thick

Deep, intense, or profound.
Thick darkness.

Fat

That part of an organization deemed wasteful.
We need to trim the fat in this company

Thick

(academic) Detailed and expansive; substantive.

Fat

(slang) An erection.
I saw Daniel crack a fat.

Thick

Troublesome; unreasonable

Fat

(golf) A poorly played shot where the ball is struck by the top part of the club head. (see also thin, shank, toe)

Thick

Curvy and voluptuous, and especially having large hips.

Fat

The best or richest productions; the best part.
To live on the fat of the land

Thick

In a thick manner.
Snow lay thick on the ground.

Fat

Work containing much blank, or its equivalent, and therefore profitable to the compositor.

Thick

Frequently or numerously.
The arrows flew thick and fast around us.

Fat

A fat person.

Thick

The thickest, or most active or intense, part of something.
It was mayhem in the thick of battle.

Fat

A beef cattle fattened for sale.

Thick

A thicket.

Fat

(obsolete) A large tub or vessel for water, wine, or other liquids; a cistern.

Thick

(slang) A stupid person; a fool.

Fat

(obsolete) A dry measure, generally equal to nine bushels.

Thick

To thicken.

Fat

To make fat; to fatten.
Kill the fatted calf

Thick

Measuring in the third dimension other than length and breadth, or in general dimension other than length; - said of a solid body; as, a timber seven inches thick.
Were it as thick as is a branched oak.
My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.

Fat

To become fat; to fatten.

Thick

Having more depth or extent from one surface to its opposite than usual; not thin or slender; as, a thick plank; thick cloth; thick paper; thick neck.

Fat

To hit a golf ball with a fat shot.

Thick

Dense; not thin; inspissated; as, thick vapors. Also used figuratively; as, thick darkness.
Make the gruel thick and slab.

Fat

A large tub, cistern, or vessel; a vat.
The fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

Thick

Not transparent or clear; hence, turbid, muddy, or misty; as, the water of a river is apt to be thick after a rain.

Fat

A measure of quantity, differing for different commodities.

Thick

Abundant, close, or crowded in space; closely set; following in quick succession; frequently recurring.
The people were gathered thick together.
Black was the forest; thick with beech it stood.

Fat

An oily liquid or greasy substance making up the main bulk of the adipose tissue of animals, and widely distributed in the seeds of plants. See Adipose tissue, under Adipose.

Thick

Not having due distinction of syllables, or good articulation; indistinct; as, a thick utterance.

Fat

The best or richest productions; the best part; as, to live on the fat of the land.

Thick

Deep; profound; as, thick sleep.

Fat

Work. containing much blank, or its equivalent, and, therefore, profitable to the compositor.

Thick

Dull; not quick; as, thick of fearing.
His dimensions to any thick sight were invincible.

Fat

Abounding with fat

Thick

Intimate; very friendly; familiar.
We have been thick ever since.

Fat

Exhibiting the qualities of a fat animal; coarse; heavy; gross; dull; stupid.
Making our western wits fat and mean.
Make the heart of this people fat.

Thick

The thickest part, or the time when anything is thickest.
In the thick of the dust and smoke.

Fat

Fertile; productive; as, a fat soil; a fat pasture.

Thick

A thicket; as, gloomy thicks.
Through the thick they heard one rudely rush.
He through a little window cast his sightThrough thick of bars, that gave a scanty light.
Through thick and thin she followed him.
He became the panegyrist, through thick and thin, of a military frenzy.

Fat

Rich; producing a large income; desirable; as, a fat benefice; a fat office; a fat job.
Now parson of Troston, a fat living in Suffolk.

Thick

Frequently; fast; quick.

Fat

Abounding in riches; affluent; fortunate.
Persons grown fat and wealthy by long impostures.

Thick

Closely; as, a plat of ground thick sown.

Fat

Of a character which enables the compositor to make large wages; - said of matter containing blank, cuts, or many leads, etc.; as, a fat take; a fat page.

Thick

To a great depth, or to a greater depth than usual; as, land covered thick with manure.

Fat

To make fat; to fatten; to make plump and fleshy with abundant food; as, to fat fowls or sheep.
We fat all creatures else to fat us.

Thick

To thicken.
The nightmare Life-in-death was she,Who thicks man's blood with cold.

Fat

To grow fat, plump, and fleshy.
An old ox fats as well, and is as good, as a young one.

Thick

The location of something surrounded by other things;
In the midst of the crowd

Fat

A soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue and consisting of a mixture of lipids (mostly triglycerides);
Pizza has too much fat

Thick

Not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions;
An inch thick
A thick board
A thick sandwich
Spread a thick layer of butter
Thick coating of dust
Thick warm blankets

Fat

A kind of body tissue containing stored fat that serves as a source of energy; adipose tissue also cushions and insulates vital organs;
Fatty tissue protected them from the severe cold

Thick

Closely crowded together;
A compact shopping center
A dense population
Thick crowds

Fat

Excess bodily weight;
She found fatness disgusting in herself as well as in others

Thick

Relatively dense in consistency;
Thick cream
Thick soup
Thick smoke
Thick fog

Fat

Make fat or plump;
We will plump out that poor starving child

Thick

Spoken as if with a thick tongue;
The thick speech of a drunkard
His words were slurred

Fat

Having much flesh (especially fat);
He hadn't remembered how fat she was

Thick

Wide from side to side;
A heavy black mark

Fat

Having a relatively large diameter;
A fat rope

Thick

Hard to pass through because of dense growth;
Dense vegetation
Thick woods

Fat

Containing or composed of fat;
Fatty food
Fat tissue

Thick

(of darkness) very intense;
Thick night
Thick darkness
A face in deep shadow
Deep night

Fat

Lucrative;
A juicy contract
A nice fat job

Thick

Abundant;
A thick head of hair

Fat

Marked by great fruitfulness;
Fertile farmland
A fat land
A productive vineyard
Rich soil

Thick

Heavy and compact in form or stature;
A wrestler of compact build
He was tall and heavyset
Stocky legs
A thick middle-aged man
A thickset young man

Fat

A chubby body;
The boy had a rounded face and fat cheeks

Thick

(used informally) associated on close terms;
A close friend
The bartender was chummy with the regular customers
The two were thick as thieves for months

Fat

Large in amount or size.
They landed a fat contract.

Thick

Used informally

Fat

Rich or lucrative.
He received a fat bonus this year.

Thick

Abundantly covered or filled;
The top was thick with dust

Fat

Plentiful or abundant.
The land was fat and fertile.

Thick

With a thick consistency;
The blood was flowing thick

Thick

In quick succession;
Misfortunes come fast and thick

Thick

Not clear or distinct; muffled.
His voice was thick with emotion.

Common Curiosities

What does thick primarily describe?

Thick primarily describes an object’s dimension from one surface to its opposite.

Can thick describe a liquid?

Yes, thick can describe a liquid that is not flowing easily or is viscous.

Can thick be used in a positive sense?

Yes, thick can have a positive connotation, like a thick carpet or thick hair.

What does fat refer to?

Fat refers to having excess flesh or adipose tissue, often related to body weight.

Is fat always negative?

Fat often has a negative connotation, especially regarding body weight, but it can be neutral when referring to food ingredients.

Are thick and fat interchangeable?

No, thick and fat are not interchangeable as they describe different attributes.

Can thick describe a person?

Yes, but it usually refers to specific attributes rather than overall body weight.

Is thick used to describe body parts?

Yes, thick can describe body parts, often focusing on them being substantial or sturdy.

Does fat always imply overweight?

While commonly associated with overweight, fat can also refer to the natural substance in bodies or richness in food.

Does thick refer to the texture of substances?

Yes, thick can refer to the dense or viscous texture of substances.

Is fat offensive when referring to a person?

Referring to a person as fat can be perceived as derogatory or offensive.

Can fat be used to describe richness?

Yes, fat can describe something rich or lucrative, like a fat bonus.

Can thick have a negative meaning?

Thick can have a negative meaning in certain contexts, like a thick accent making understanding difficult.

Can fat be used metaphorically?

Yes, fat can be used metaphorically to describe something abundant or rich.

Is fat used in cooking?

Yes, fat is used in cooking, referring to the natural oily substance from animals.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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