fatten

/ˈfætən/

//ˈfætən// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"fatten" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“fatten” is an uncommon English word, ranked #52,941 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#52,941
frequency rank, English
6
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To cause (a person or animal) to be fat or fatter.

Key facts for fatten
PropertyValue
Headwordfatten
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈfætən/
Letters6
Frequency rank#52,941
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “fatten” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). fatten lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for fatten is 6 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˈfætən/. Corpus data places it at rank #52,941 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

fatten doesn't appear in our generated misspelling index, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which typically means the spelling is too distinctive to be mistaken for another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From fat + -en. The correct English form is fatten, spelled F-A-T-T-E-N.

Definition

  1. 1
    To cause (a person or animal) to be fat or fatter.
  2. 2
    To become fat or fatter.
  3. 3
    To make thick or thicker (often something containing paper, especially money).
  4. 4
    To become thick or thicker.
  5. 5
    To make (soil) fertile and fruitful.
  6. 6
    To become fertile and fruitful.

Etymology

From fat + -en.

This word in other languages

engordar(Español)engraisser(Français)mästen(Deutsch)engordar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "fatten"?
"fatten" is spelled F-A-T-T-E-N. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈfætən/.
What does "fatten" mean?
As a verb, "fatten" means: To cause (a person or animal) to be fat or fatter.
How do you pronounce "fatten"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "fatten" is /ˈfætən/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "fatten"?
From fat + -en. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “fatten”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is F-A-T-T-E-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈfætən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list