Meanings
nounleptin (countable and uncountable, plural leptins)
plural leptins
- countableuncountablebiochemistryA protein hormone produced in adipose tissue; it plays a role in regulating appetite and metabolism.
That is because sleep affects two appetite-controlling hormones, leptin and ghrelin.
2022 February 26, Ruth Alexander, “The surprising links between what you eat and how well you sleep”, in BBC News, BBC, retrieved 27 Feb 20221 more example
If we could control leptin, then presumably we could help people to control their weight.
2019, Bill Bryson, The Body: A Guide for Occupants, Black Swan (2020), page 171
Origin
- Ancient Greekλεπτός“thin”
- Englishleptin
Ancient Greek λεπτός (leptós, “thin”) + -in
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 瘦素, 瘦蛋白
- 瘦素 (shòusù)a protein hormone
- 瘦蛋白 (shòudànbái)a protein hormone
Finnish leptiini
- leptiinia protein hormone
Hungarian jóllakottsághormon, leptin
- jóllakottsághormona protein hormone
- leptina protein hormone
Icelandic leptín
- leptína protein hormone
Italian leptina
- leptinaa protein hormone
Spanish leptina
- leptinaa protein hormone
Swedish leptin
- leptina protein hormone
Turkish leptin
- leptina protein hormone
Welsh leptin
- leptina protein hormone
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
leptin. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leptin
MLA
“leptin.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leptin. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “leptin,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leptin.
Source: leptin on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.