lysosome

noun

ly·​so·​some ˈlī-sə-ˌsōm 

: a saclike cellular organelle that contains various hydrolytic enzymes see cell illustration

lysosomal

ˌlī-sə-ˈsō-məl 

adjective

Examples of lysosome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In aged mouse stem cells, the lysosomes had become hyperacidic, damaged, depleted and abnormally active. —Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 June 2026

The presence of degraded mitochondria and lysosomes in lipofuscin supports the notion that aging begins with the breakdown of these two organelles, leading to irreversible damage in non-dividing cells such as neurons. —Kristel Tjandra, Hartford Courant, 5 June 2026

This enzyme is active in lysosomes, which are structures inside cells that act as recycling centers. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 6 May 2026

And sure enough, the analysis showed damage to the cardiac mitochondria, which power the cells, and oversize lysosomes, which help break down cellular material. —Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 4 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary lys- + -some entry 3

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lysosome

noun

ly·​so·​some ˈlī-sə-ˌsōm 

: a saclike organelle that contains enzymes which can break down materials (as food particles and waste) within a cell

Medical Definition

lysosome

noun

ly·​so·​some ˈlī-sə-ˌsōm 

: a saclike cellular organelle that contains various hydrolytic enzymes

lysosomal

ˌlī-sə-ˈsō-məl 

adjective

lysosomally

-mə-lē 

adverb