ENGLISH
REFERENCE

lite

adj.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈɫaɪt// UK //lˈaɪt// lite Archaic Dialect Informal

adj. containing less of something, usually fat, sugar, or calories. You see this word on food labels to show a lighter version of a product.

adj. having a reduced amount of a specific ingredient, typically fat, sugar, or alcohol. Common in commercial and advertising contexts.


SIMPLE

I drink lite beer to save calories.

CONTEXTUAL

She switched to lite yogurt because it has less sugar than the regular kind.

COMPLEX

The marketing campaign emphasized the lite version's lower calorie count, appealing to health-conscious consumers without compromising on the brand's signature taste.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

Variation of light (in the sense of lacking weight, substance, etc.)

Etymology 2

From Middle English lit, lut (“little”), from Old English lȳt.

Etymology 3

From Middle English liten, from Old Norse hlíta (“to rely on, trust, abide by”). Cognate with Icelandic hlíta (“to comply”), Swedish lita (“to trust, rely on, depend on, confide in”), Danish lide (“to trust”).

Usage

Often used as a prefix or modifier in product names.

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