lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt 

: any of the colorless weakly motile cells originating from stem cells and differentiating in lymphoid tissue (as of the thymus or bone marrow) that are the typical cellular elements of lymph, include the cellular mediators of immunity, and constitute 20 to 30 percent of the white blood cells of normal human blood compare b cell, t cell

lymphocytic

ˌlim(p)-fə-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Examples of lymphocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are two types of lymphocytes: B and T. B lymphocytes protect the body by making proteins called antibodies to destroy bacteria, viruses, and fungi in the body. —Doru Paul, Health, 7 Dec. 2024

The therapy, known as tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, or TIL, uses the patients’ own immune cells to battle their cancer. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2024

Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in white blood cells called lymphocytes, affecting the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 16 Oct. 2024

Other immune cells, such as lymphocytes and CAR-Ts, also showed improved cancer-killing abilities after receiving extra mitochondria. —Michael Irving, New Atlas, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lymphocyte

• B lymphocyte
• cytolytic T lymphocyte
• cytotoxic T lymphocyte
• killer T lymphocyte
• T lymphocyte

Kids Definition

lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt 

: any of the white blood cells that arise in the bone marrow, are found especially in special tissue (as of the lymph nodes and spleen), blood, and lymph, and play an important role in the immune response compare b cell, t cell

Medical Definition

lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt 

: any of the colorless weakly motile cells that originate from stem cells and differentiate in lymphoid tissue (as of the thymus or bone marrow), that are the typical cellular elements of lymph, that include the cellular mediators of immunity, and that constitute 20 to 30 percent of the white blood cells of normal human blood see b cell, t cell

lymphocytic

ˌlim(p)-fə-ˈsit-ik 

adjective