leptin

noun

lep·​tin ˈlep-tən How to pronounce leptin (audio)
: a peptide hormone that is produced by fat cells and plays a role in body weight regulation by acting on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn fat stored in adipose tissue

Examples of leptin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Exercise can help balance leptin and ghrelin, hormones involved in hunger, energy balance, and sleep. — Wendy Wisner, Health, 31 Mar. 2025 Ghrelin, an appetite stimulant, rises when you are sleep-deprived, and leptin decreases. — Judy Stone, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025 Lack of sleep is known to increase hunger hormones (like ghrelin) and decrease satiety hormones, like leptin, which can cause users to overeat, undermining how GLP-1s suppress appetite. — Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 6 Mar. 2025 At the same time levels of a hormone called leptin that tells the brain when the stomach is full plummet. — Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leptin

Word History

Etymology

Greek leptos slender + English -in entry 1

First Known Use

1995, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leptin was in 1995

Rhymes for leptin

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Browse Nearby Words

lepteny
leptin
Leptinotarsa
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Cite this Entry

“Leptin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leptin. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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Medical Definition

leptin

noun
lep·​tin ˈlep-tən How to pronounce leptin (audio)
: a peptide hormone that is produced by fat cells and plays a role in body weight regulation by acting on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn fat stored in adipose tissue

More from Merriam-Webster on leptin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leptin

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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