Lean vs. Thin: Difference and Comparison
Edited by Muazma Batool — By Muneeza Rehman — Updated on September 30, 2023
"Lean" typically refers to having a slim figure with slight muscle definition, while "thin" implies a slight or slender build without emphasizing muscle. Both describe body types but lean suggests some muscularity, thin does not.
Difference Between Lean and Thin
The term "lean" typically carries an implication of a slender physique that has a discernible amount of muscle definition. On the contrary, "thin" tends to depict a physique that is noticeably slight or slender but without an emphasized musculature. While both words might often be used interchangeably in casual conversation to describe a slim physique, a detailed look reveals subtle distinctions that emphasize different aspects of physicality and build.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
In dietary and culinary contexts, "lean" is often utilized to describe meat that is low in fat, suggesting a healthier or more nutritious option. Alternatively, "thin" may describe the physical properties of an object or substance, such as a thin slice of bread or a thin material, without necessarily inferring a healthful attribute. Both words therefore navigate different contexts and applications, despite sharing a common thread in describing something that is slender or not thick.
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
In varied contexts, "lean" might connote a positive or aspirational attribute, as being lean might be associated with fitness and health. Conversely, "thin" might be contextually neutral or could potentially carry negative connotations, especially in contexts where robustness or abundance is prized. Therefore, "lean" and "thin" traverse through conversational contexts with subtle differences in implication and connotation, particularly in relation to physical fitness and health.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Discussing physical appearances, "lean" often integrates an element of strength or athleticism into its description, hinting at a balanced physique that blends slimness with muscularity. On the other hand, "thin" might simply underline a lack of bulk or substance without embedding any implication of physical strength or muscularity. Though both adjectives delineate a lack of bulk or heft, "lean" tends to mingle an element of vitality or strength into its connotation, which "thin" doesn't necessarily do.
William
Sep 30, 2023
Lean vs. Thin Comparison Chart
Dietary Context
Describes meat low in fat
Does not have a specific dietary implication
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
In Describing Physicality
Suggests slimness with some muscularity
Suggests slimness without muscularity
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Sep 30, 2023
Usage as a Verb
Can also be a verb (to incline toward)
Is not commonly used as a verb
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Lean vs. Thin Definitions
◉Lean
Lean implies a slender and slightly muscular physique.
The athlete has a lean build, suitable for running.
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
◉Thin
Thin describes something lacking in density or thickness.
The atmosphere on the mountain becomes thin at high altitudes.
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Sep 30, 2023
◉Lean
Lean can describe something that tilts or inclines.
The tower started to lean towards the left.
William
Sep 30, 2023
◉Thin
Relatively small in extent from one surface to the opposite, usually in the smallest solid dimension
a thin book.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Lean refers to relying on or utilizing for support.
He had to lean on the wall to maintain balance.
Levi
Sep 30, 2023
◉Lean
Lean implies moving or inclining in a particular direction.
She had to lean forward to hear the whisper.
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Sep 30, 2023
◉Lean
To incline the weight of the body so as to be supported
leaning against the doorpost.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To have a tendency or preference
a government that leans toward fascism.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
(Informal) To exert pressure
The boss is leaning on us to meet the deadline.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To set or place so as to be resting or supported
leaned the ladder against the wall.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Not having enough photographic density or contrast to make satisfactory prints. Used of a negative.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Containing little fat or less fat relative to a standard
lean hamburger.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
In a thin manner
Spread the varnish thin if you don't want it to wrinkle.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Thrifty in management, especially by employing just enough people to accomplish a task or do business
"Company leaders know their industries must be lean to survive" (Christian Science Monitor).
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite.
thin plate of metal;
thin paper;
thin board;
thin covering
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Very narrow in all diameters; having a cross section that is small in all directions.
thin wire;
thin string
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Having little body fat or flesh; slim; slender; lean; gaunt.
thin person
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating.
a leaning column
She leaned out of the window.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Of low viscosity or low specific gravity.
Water is thinner than honey.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
(copulative) To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; often with to, toward, etc.
I’m leaning towards voting Conservative in the next election.
The Hispanic vote leans Democratic.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Scarce; not close, crowded, or numerous; not filling the space.
The trees of a forest are thin; the corn or grass is thin.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Followed by against, on, or upon: to rest or rely, for support, comfort, etc.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
(golf) Describing a poorly played golf shot where the ball is struck by the bottom part of the club head. See fat, shank, toe.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Slight; small; slender; flimsy; superficial; inadequate; not sufficient for a covering.
a thin disguise
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To thin out (a fuel-air mixture): to reduce the fuel flow into the mixture so that there is more air or oxygen.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
(of an object taller than its width and depth) An inclination away from the vertical.
The trees had various leans toward gaps in the canopy.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
(philately) A loss or tearing of paper from the back of a stamp, although not sufficient to create a complete hole.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Any food produced or served in thin slices.
chocolate mint thins
potato thins
wheat thins
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
A recreational drug based on codeine-laced promethazine cough syrup, especially popular in the hip hop community in the southeastern United States.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
(intransitive) To become thin or thinner.
The crowds thinned after the procession had passed: there was nothing more to see.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
To remove some plants or parts of plants in order to improve the growth of what remains.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Having little extra or little to spare; scanty; meagre.
a lean budget
a lean harvest
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Having a low proportion or concentration of a desired substance or ingredient.
A lean ore hardly worth mining.
Running on too lean a fuel-air mixture will cause, among other problems, your internal combustion engine to heat up too much.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Having little thickness or extent from one surface to its opposite; as, a thin plate of metal; thin paper; a thin board; a thin covering.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; opposed to fat.
lean copy, matter, or type
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Rare; not dense or thick; - applied to fluids or soft mixtures; as, thin blood; thin broth; thin air.
In the day, when the air is more thin.
Satan, bowing lowHis gray dissimulation, disappeared,Into thin air diffused.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
(business) Efficient, economic, frugal, agile, slimmed-down; pertaining to the modern industrial principles of "lean manufacturing".
lean management
lean manufacturing
Alcoa is now a lean and agile enterprise, after having split last year into two entities.
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Not close; not crowded; not filling the space; not having the individuals of which the thing is composed in a close or compact state; hence, not abundant; as, the trees of a forest are thin; the corn or grass is thin.
Ferrara is very large, but extremely thin of people.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Not full or well grown; wanting in plumpness.
Seven thin ears . . . blasted with the east wind.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To incline, deviate, or bend, from a vertical position; to be in a position thus inclining or deviating; as, she leaned out at the window; a leaning column.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Not stout; slim; slender; lean; gaunt; as, a person becomes thin by disease.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To incline in opinion or desire; to conform in conduct; - with to, toward, etc.
They delight rather to lean to their old customs.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Wanting in body or volume; small; feeble; not full.
Thin, hollow sounds, and lamentable screams.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To rest or rely, for support, comfort, and the like; - with on, upon, or against.
He leaned not on his fathers but himself.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Slight; small; slender; flimsy; wanting substance or depth or force; superficial; inadequate; not sufficient for a covering; as, a thin disguise.
My tale is done, for my wit is but thin.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
To cause to lean; to incline; to support or rest.
His fainting limbs against an oak he leant.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Not thickly or closely; in a seattered state; as, seed sown thin.
Spain is thin sown of people.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Wanting flesh; destitute of or deficient in fat; slim; not plump; slender; meager; thin; lank; as, a lean body; a lean cattle.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Wanting fullness, richness, sufficiency, or productiveness; deficient in quality or contents; slender; scant; barren; bare; mean; - used literally and figuratively; as, the lean harvest; a lean purse; a lean discourse; lean wages.
Their lean and flashy songs.
What the land is, whether it be fat or lean.
Out of my lean and low abilityI'll lend you something.
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
To grow or become thin; - used with some adverbs, as out, away, etc.; as, geological strata thin out, i. e., gradually diminish in thickness until they disappear.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
Of a character which prevents the compositor from earning the usual wages; - opposed to fat; as, lean copy, matter, or type.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
That part of flesh which consists principally of muscle without the fat.
The fat was so white and the lean was so ruddy.
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
the property possessed by a line or surface that departs from the vertical;
the tower had a pronounced tilt
the ship developed a list to starboard
he walked with a heavy inclination to the right
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
to incline or bend from a vertical position;
She leaned over the banister
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
of relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite or in cross section;
thin wire
a thin chiffon blouse
a thin book
a thin layer of paint
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
lacking excess flesh;
you can't be too rich or too thin
Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined;
She tends to be nervous before her lectures
These dresses run small
He inclined to corpulence
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May 03, 2023
◉Thin
having little substance or significance;
a flimsy excuse
slight evidence
a tenuous argument
a thin plot
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May 03, 2023
◉Lean
lacking excess flesh;
you can't be too rich or too thin
Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Thin
relatively thin in consistency or low in density; not viscous;
air is thin at high altitudes
a thin soup
skimmed milk is much thinner than whole milk
thin oil
Muneeza Rehman
May 03, 2023
◉Thin
Thin describes an object or person as being slight or slender.
The model was tall and thin.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
◉Lean
Lean describes meat that is relatively low in fat.
She chose a lean cut of beef for her recipe.
Elijah
Sep 30, 2023
◉Thin
Thin refers to a small distance between opposite sides of something.
He sliced the bread very thin.
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
◉Thin
Thin can mean sparse or not dense.
His hair was beginning to thin on top.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
◉Thin
Thin implies something that is not substantial or robust.
The argument provided was thin and unconvincing.
Lucas
Sep 30, 2023
Lean vs. Thin Frequently Asked Questions
Does thin imply low fat when describing food?
No, thin does not specifically imply low fat, just a slender or slight form.
Elijah
Sep 30, 2023
What does lean imply about physique?
Lean suggests a physique that is slender but has some muscle definition.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Is lean only used to describe physical forms?
No, lean can also be a verb meaning to incline or rely upon something.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
How is thin commonly used to describe body type?
Thin describes a body type that is slender or slight without an emphasis on muscle.
Muazma Batool
Sep 30, 2023
Can lean refer to types of meat?
Yes, lean is often used to describe meat that is low in fat.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Is being described as thin always negative?
No, describing someone or something as thin is not inherently negative and depends on context.
Kaitlyn
Sep 30, 2023
How does thin describe objects other than body type?
Thin generally describes objects as being not thick or not dense.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Can lean imply health and fitness?
Lean can imply a healthy and slightly muscular physique.
Lucas
Sep 30, 2023
How might thin be perceived in different contexts?
The perception of thin can vary and might be neutral, positive, or negative depending on context.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Can lean be utilized in a non-physical description?
Yes, lean might be employed metaphorically, as in a "lean process" implying efficiency without excess.
Muneeza Rehman
Sep 30, 2023
Content Creators
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Muazma BatoolAs a content editor, Muazma Batool is not just a grammar guru but a creative mastermind who breathes life into every word. With an eagle eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, she transforms bland text into engaging content that captivates audiences and drives results.
