satiety
suh-TY-uh-tee
/səˈtaɪəti/
The feeling or state of being sated; the quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity.
Refers to the biological 'fullness' signal that tells you to stop eating, distinct from just 'not being hungry.'
The story behind the word. 'Satiety' comes from the Latin 'satis', meaning 'enough.' This is the same root that gives us 'satisfy' and 'satisfaction.' It describes the point where you have had 'enough' and your body signals a stop.
Word relationships
- fullness: The common term for the physical sensation.
- surfeit: An excessive amount of something, often implying an uncomfortably large amount.
- hunger: The physiological need for food.
- appetite: The psychological desire for food.
Commonly confused with
- satisfaction: Satisfaction is a general feeling of pleasure; satiety is specifically about being physically full of food.
Word family
- sate (verb): To satisfy a desire or appetite fully.
- satiated (adjective): Fully satisfied.
Collocations
- sense of satiety
- satiety signals
- promote satiety
- satiety hormone
Example sentences
- "High-protein meals are known to increase satiety and reduce subsequent caloric intake." Nutrition science article.
- "The hormone leptin plays a crucial role in signaling satiety to the brain." Medical study on hormones. (Journal of Clinical Investigation)
Memory hook
Think of 'Satiety' as 'Satisfying the Tummy.' Satiety: The state of 'enough'.
When not to use
In casual dining, 'fullness' is more common. Satiety is used when discussing the science of appetite.
Fun facts
- Fiber-rich foods provide high satiety because they take longer to digest and physically fill the stomach.
Explore more words
saturation, palatability, temperance, sadistic, mouthfeel, degustation
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