Phat: meaning, definitions and examples

The term 'phat' emerged from African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and rose to prominence in the 1990s among hip-hop artists and fans. It is believed to be a variation of the word 'fat', which in this context means something that is plentiful or desirable rather than excessive in size. Originally, 'fat' was used to describe something that was appealing or excellent. Over time, variants like 'phat' were adopted into mainstream culture, particularly in music, fashion, and other lifestyle areas associated with hip-hop. The phonetic spelling change from 'fat' to 'phat' was likely a stylistic choice intended to distinguish the slang usage from negative connotations associated with the word 'fat' in other contexts. As the hip-hop culture spread globally, so did the word 'phat', which now resonates with a broader audience, reflecting a universal appreciation for style and quality.

Ranking #39,425, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.

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• 39422 limning
• 39423 distastefully
• 39424 infrasonic
• 39425 phat
• 39426 hypermarket
• 39427 lenience
• 39428 climatologist
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