saturated

American  

[sach-uh-rey-tid] / ˈsætʃ əˌreɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. soaked, impregnated, or imbued thoroughly; charged thoroughly or completely; brought to a state of saturation.

2. (of colors) of maximum chroma or purity; of the highest intensity of hue; free from admixture of white.

3. Chemistry.

   1. (of a solution) containing the maximum amount of solute capable of being dissolved under given conditions.

   2. (of an organic compound) containing no double or triple bonds; having each single bond attached to an atom or group.

   3. (of an inorganic compound) having no free valence electrons.

---

saturated British  

/ ˈsætʃəˌreɪtɪd /

adjective

1. (of a solution or solvent) containing the maximum amount of solute that can normally be dissolved at a given temperature and pressure See also supersaturated

2. (of a colour) having a large degree of saturation

3. 1. containing no multiple bonds and thus being incapable of undergoing additional reactions

      a saturated hydrocarbon

   2. containing no unpaired valence electrons

4. (of a fat, esp an animal fat) containing a high proportion of fatty acids having single bonds See also polyunsaturated unsaturated

5. (of a vapour) containing the equilibrium amount of gaseous material at a given temperature and pressure See also supersaturated

6. (of a magnetic material) fully magnetized

7. extremely wet; soaked

---

saturated Scientific  

/ săch′ə-rā′tĭd /

1. Relating to an organic compound in which all the carbon atoms are joined by single bonds and therefore cannot be combined with any additional atoms or radicals. Propane and cyclopentane are examples of saturated hydrocarbons.

2. Compare unsaturated

3. Relating to a solution that is unable to dissolve more of a solute.

4. Containing as much water vapor as is possible at a given temperature. Air that is saturated has a relative humidity of 100 percent.

---

Other Word Forms

• nonsaturated adjective
• subsaturated adjective

Etymology

Origin of saturated

First recorded in 1660–70; saturate + -ed ²

Example Sentences

“Conditions remain dangerous because the ground is already saturated, meaning it will take much less rain to trigger flooding, road closures and damage,” Green posted on X.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 30, 2026

With the premium smartphone market widely seen as saturated, Cook has increasingly turned to selling digital content and services to the company's vast existing base of users.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

Most ultraprocessed foods would be considered junk food and are high in added sugars, saturated fat and sodium.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 17, 2026

Despite some species being naturally resilient to wet winters, rescue groups said repeated storms and saturated ground were overwhelming animals' ability to cope.

From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026

Between this level and the surface was a mixture of sand and clay so saturated with water that engineers called it gumbo.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Related Words

• soaked
• soggy
• waterlogged