lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt How to pronounce lymphocyte (audio)
: 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 adjective

Examples of lymphocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Indeed, a study of centenarians revealed a strong positive correlation between lifespan and PARP1 activity in lymphocytes. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2024 Some compounds found in colostrum include lactoferrin, lymphocytes, leukocytes, interleukins, growth factors, fatty acids, conjugated linoleic acid, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. Nick Blackmer, Verywell Health, 13 Feb. 2024 Unmolested females had three times as many circulating lymphocytes as one poor female who was attacked five times during those first two weeks. Robert Sapolsky, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2019 They can be bound by white blood cells, including lymphocytes, which are the cells of the adaptive immune system. Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 16 Jan. 2024 At the same time, their numbers of white blood cells, or lymphocytes, the sentinel cells of the immune system that defend the body against infections, declined markedly--another highly reliable index of stress. Robert Sapolsky, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2019 The study suggests, for instance, that immune cells called lymphocytes are far more common than biologists realized. Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2023 Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma are both blood cancers that begin in lymphocytes. Barbara Brody, Health, 9 Nov. 2023 The team also estimated humans have about four times more total lymphocytes in our bodies than previously thought. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lymphocyte.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lymphocyte was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near lymphocyte

Cite this Entry

“Lymphocyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lymphocyte. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

lymphocyte

noun
lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt How to pronounce lymphocyte (audio)
: 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 How to pronounce lymphocyte (audio)
: 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 adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on lymphocyte

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