monocyte

noun

mono·​cyte ˈmä-nə-ˌsīt 

: a large white blood cell with finely granulated chromatin dispersed throughout the nucleus that is formed in the bone marrow, enters the blood, and migrates into the connective tissue where it differentiates into a macrophage

monocytic

ˌmä-nə-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Examples of monocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What's more, inside the plaques themselves, the number of monocytes was cut by 81%, compared with untreated mice, and the genes that normally drive inflammation inside the arterial walls were dialed down. — New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2025

Activation of the protein leads to rapid mobilization of immune cells, including gd T cells, monocytes and neutrophils, which induce inflammation. — Hannah Millington, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025

The experiment uncovered that just one night of sleep deprivation resulted in a disruption in immune cells, or monocytes, in these participants, similar to what was observed in obese participants. SLEEPY DURING THE DAY? — Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025

Blood vessels become increasingly fragile, allowing for the leakage of the likes of inflammation mediators and some immunity cells, like monocytes or macrophages. — Jennifer Weil, WWD, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for monocyte

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

monocyte

noun

mono·​cyte ˈmän-ə-ˌsīt 

: a large white blood cell that is formed in the bone marrow and travels to the connective tissues where it develops into a macrophage

Medical Definition

monocyte

noun

mono·​cyte ˈmän-ə-ˌsīt 

: a large white blood cell with finely granulated chromatin dispersed throughout the nucleus that is formed in the bone marrow, enters the blood, and migrates into the connective tissue where it differentiates into a macrophage

monocytic

ˌmän-ə-ˈsit-ik 

adjective

monocytoid

-ˈsīt-ˌȯid 

adjective