xenobiotic

noun

xe·​no·​bi·​ot·​ic ˌze-nō-bī-ˈä-tik How to pronounce xenobiotic (audio)
ˌzē-,
-bē- How to pronounce xenobiotic (audio)
: a chemical compound (such as a drug, pesticide, or carcinogen) that is foreign to a living organism
xenobiotic adjective

Word History

First Known Use

1965, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of xenobiotic was in 1965

Dictionary Entries Near xenobiotic

Cite this Entry

“Xenobiotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/xenobiotic. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

xenobiotic

noun
xe·​no·​bi·​ot·​ic ˌzen-ō-bī-ˈät-ik How to pronounce xenobiotic (audio) ˌzēn- How to pronounce xenobiotic (audio)
-bē-
: a chemical compound (as a drug, pesticide, or carcinogen) that is foreign to a living organism
xenobiotic adjective
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!