white blood cell

noun

: any of the blood cells that are colorless, lack hemoglobin, contain a nucleus, and include the lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

called also leukocyte, white blood corpuscle, white cell

compare red blood cell

Examples of white blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The research started back in 2017 where the team found HSCs in the lungs of mice which were capable of making red blood cells, as well as white blood cells which help with fighting infections and healing and also cells which produce platelets. Victoria Forster, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 But in 5 to 10 percent of infections, the immune system can’t produce enough white blood cells to surround the invader. John Green, The Atlantic, 15 Mar. 2025 When white blood cells—the body's primary defense against infection—are not carried as efficiently, the immune system becomes less effective.4 9. Jane Kim, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2025 Clozapine is also associated with a rare side effect called neutropenia, a drop in white blood cell counts that, in its most severe form, can be life-threatening. Ellen Barry, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for white blood cell

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of white blood cell was in 1852

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Cite this Entry

“White blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20blood%20cell. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

white blood cell

noun
: a colorless blood cell (as a lymphocyte) that lacks hemoglobin and contains a nucleus

called also leukocyte, white blood corpuscle, white cell, white corpuscle

Medical Definition

white blood cell

noun
: any of the blood cells of the immune system that are colorless, lack hemoglobin, contain a nucleus, and include the lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils along with their precursors and derivatives (as macrophages) : leukocyte
abbreviation WBC

called also white blood corpuscle, white cell, white corpuscle

compare red blood cell

More from Merriam-Webster on white blood cell

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