stem cell

noun

: an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells

hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow

Examples of stem cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Medical treatments, especially those as complex as stem cell therapy, demand mindfulness and understanding from those administering them. — Malana Vantyler, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Because of that risk, eliminating measurable residual disease has become one of the most important goals after chemotherapy, particularly before patients undergo stem cell transplantation. — William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026

Instead of simply managing symptoms, doctors extract a patient’s stem cells, edit them outside the body, and return them after chemotherapy. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

The Food and Drug Administration said Monday that Capricor Therapeutics’ stem cell treatment for Duchenne muscular dystrophy did not meet the objectives of a Phase 3 trial — contrary to the company’s claims last year. — Jason Mast, STAT, 27 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stem cell

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

stem cell

noun

: a simple cell that can become a cell (as a blood cell or skin cell) with a special function

Medical Definition

stem cell

noun

ˈstem- 

: an unspecialized cell capable of perpetuating itself through cell division and having the potential to give rise to differentiated cells with specialized functions

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo.

—Carrie J. Merkle, in Essentials of Pathophysiology

… picture the bone marrow as a blood cell factory that takes a single type of precursor cell, or stem cell, and modifies it in various ways to produce all the cells that circulate in the blood.

—Gina Kolata, Discover

Recent observations are providing increasing evidence for the concept that adult stem cells are part of a natural system for tissue repair.

—Darwin J. Prockop, in Essentials of Stem Cell Biology