no-fat

The compound adjective 'no-fat' is a modern, transparent formation from two native English elements. The negative particle 'no', with roots in Old English negation, is directly prefixed to the noun 'fat', which originates from the Old English concept of being fatted or plump. The logic of the construction is purely descriptive and literal, combining a straightforward negation with the substance to be negated. It emerged in the late 20th century alongside heightened nutritional awareness to clearly label food products, representing a functional and analytical approach to word formation in contemporary English.

Structure: no (negation) + fat (adipose tissue) no: From Old English nā, a compound of ne ("not") and ā ("ever"). Functions as a negative particle. fat: From Old English fǣtt ("fatted, fatty"), from the verb fǣtan ("to fatten"). Functions as a noun denoting adipose tissue or a rich organic substance.