toxicology

noun

tox·​i·​col·​o·​gy ˌtäk-si-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce toxicology (audio)
: a science that deals with poisons and their effect and with the problems involved (such as clinical, industrial, or legal problems)
toxicologist noun

Did you know?

Even though most of us are aware of toxicology primarily from crime shows on TV, toxicologists actually do most of their work in other fields. Many are employed by drug companies, others by chemical companies. Many work for the government, making sure the public is being kept safe from environmental poisons in the water, soil, and air, as well as unhealthy substances in our food and drugs. These issues often have to do with quantity; questions about how much of some substance should be considered dangerous, whether in the air or in a soft drink, may be left to toxicologists. But occasionally a toxicology task may be more exciting: for instance, discovering that what looked like an ordinary heart attack was actually brought on by a hypodermic injection of a paralyzing muscle relaxant.

Examples of toxicology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Results from a toxicology test could take weeks, authorities said. Tim Stelloh, NBC News, 11 Feb. 2025 State police requested toxicology reports for Vega from the Connecticut Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, which showed that her blood alcohol concentration was 0.317. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2025 Preliminary findings from the Kane County Coroner’s Office found the cause of Chavira’s death to be consistent with multiple stab wounds, and toxicology samples were sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025 His toxicology report indicated positive findings for 11-Hydroxy Delta-9 THC 2.9 ng/mL and Delta-9 Carboxy THC 138 ng/mL. The warrant affidavit said the lab was unable to quantify the amount of Delta-9 THC in Ivers’ blood. Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for toxicology

Word History

First Known Use

1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toxicology was in 1799

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Cite this Entry

“Toxicology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxicology. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.

Medical Definition

toxicology

noun
tox·​i·​col·​o·​gy -ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce toxicology (audio)
plural toxicologies
: the scientific study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on the living organism

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