fleshiness

IPA/ˈfleʃ.i.nəs/
IPA/ˈfleʃ.i.nəs/

fleshiness — noun

1. the physical quality or condition of having noticeably soft, rounded body parts

1.nounC1
Definition

the physical quality or condition of having noticeably soft, rounded body parts due to an above-average amount of tissue under the skin

Example

The dog's fleshiness was causing joint pain, so the vet recommended less food.

possessive + fleshiness as sentence subject

Cyrus was unhappy about his fleshiness and started walking to work every day.

about + possessive + fleshiness after linking verb

Common collocations
  • noticeable fleshiness
  • excessive fleshiness
  • soft fleshiness
  • unattractive fleshiness
  • fleshiness around the waist
Synonyms
  • corpulence

    more formal and clinical; suggests extreme or unhealthy fatness

  • plumpness

    milder and more positive; suggests a pleasantly rounded appearance

  • stoutness

    suggests a solid, thick body type; often neutral or mildly positive

  • fullness

    broader term; can describe body shape but also non-physical qualities

Antonyms
  • thinness

    direct opposite; suggests small amount of body tissue

  • leanness

    suggests a healthy, muscular slimness rather than mere lack of flesh

  • slimness

    milder opposite; often positive in tone

Usage Note

Frequently appears after a possessive determiner (his, her, its) or in the pattern 'the fleshiness of + noun phrase'.

Common Mistakes

His fleshiness was laughed at by his friends.
His weight was laughed at by his friends.
'fleshiness' is a neutral or clinical description, not typically used in insult contexts.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These four words all describe a body shape that is not thin, but they differ noticeably in tone and use. 'Corpulence' is the most formal and clinical — you would expect to find it in a medical report rather than everyday conversation; it often implies excessive or unhealthy fat. 'Plumpness' is the mildest and most positive, frequently used for babies, children, or in contexts where a rounded shape is considered attractive or endearing. 'Stoutness' falls between the two: it describes a solid, thick, strong-looking body and is often neutral or even slightly approving, especially when talking about older adults. 'Fullness' is the least specific — it can refer to body shape ('the fullness of her figure') but also to non-physical qualities like flavour or sound, which makes it the most versatile of the four. For everyday description, 'plump' or 'stout' are safer than 'fleshiness' or 'corpulence', which carry a more clinical or detached tone.

corpulence ↗plumpnessstoutnessfullness ↗

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • fleshiness of

Etymology

Proto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Formed from the adjective 'fleshy' (recorded in Middle English as 'fleschi', from Old English 'flǣsc' meaning 'flesh', plus the suffix '-y') combined with the noun-forming suffix '-ness', which turns an adjective into a noun describing a state or quality. The word 'flesh' itself comes from Proto-Germanic '*flaiski-', which shares distant roots with Old High German 'fleisc' and Gothic 'flaik'.