What does "cholesterol" mean?

1. (the biological substance) a fatty substance that your body makes and uses to build cells. 2. (the medical measurement) the amount of this fatty substance in your blood, often checked by a doctor.

How do you use "cholesterol"?

Often used uncountably when referring to the general health marker.

cholesterol

US //kəˈɫɛstɝˌɔɫ// UK //kəlˈɛstəɹˌɒl// choles·terol

1 the biological substance (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

a fatty substance that your body makes and uses to build cells.

a sterol lipid synthesized by the liver that is a structural component of animal cell membranes and a precursor for steroid hormones.

Example

The body needs a certain amount of cholesterol to build healthy cells.

Example

Cholesterol plays a vital role in maintaining the fluidity of the plasma membrane across a range of physiological temperatures.
- lipid
- fatty acid
2 the medical measurement (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Medicine

the amount of this fatty substance in your blood, often checked by a doctor.

the concentration of various lipoproteins in the blood, typically measured to assess the risk of heart disease.

Example

He changed his diet because his doctor said his cholesterol was too high.

Example

Regular blood tests are necessary to monitor her cholesterol, especially since she has a family history of cardiovascular issues.

Usage

Often used uncountably when referring to the general health marker.
- cholesterol level
- lipid profile

Origin

Borrowed from French cholestérol.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 20, 2026