red blood cell

noun

variants or less commonly red blood corpuscle or red cell or red corpuscle
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and in mammals are typically biconcave disks which lack a nucleus and cellular organelles and are formed from nucleated cells of the red bone marrow

Note: The number of red blood cells ranges from four to six million in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. The red color of blood is due to the presence of hemoglobin within the red blood cells.

called also erythrocyte

compare white blood cell

Examples of red blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Several common causes include iron deficiency, deficiency of other vitamins required for the production of red blood cells, and when bleeding causes loss of red blood cells and hemoglobin faster than they can be replaced. Kristen Rogers, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 This examines the shape and size of your red blood cells. Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 8 Mar. 2025 Hemophilia: Blood transfusion or medication to increase red blood cell production can help replace low red blood cells. Steffini Stalos, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2025 According to the Preeclampsia Foundation, HELLP syndrome stands for Hemolysis (the breaking down of red blood cells), Elevated Liver Enzyme Levels, and Low Platelet Levels, which most commonly occurs in the third trimester. Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for red blood cell

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red blood cell was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Red blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20blood%20cell. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

red blood cell

noun
: a reddish cell of the blood that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

Medical Definition

red blood cell

noun
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of vertebrate blood

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

compare white blood cell

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