bloodstream

noun

blood·​stream ˈbləd-ˌstrēm 

1

: the flowing blood in a circulatory system

2

: a mainstream of power or vitality

… introduce into the economic bloodstream a large amount of money …

—Harper's

Examples of bloodstream in a Sentence

The drug is now entering the bloodstream.

Recent Examples on the Web

If the infection enters the bloodstream, symptoms also can include fever, chills, low blood pressure and blistering skin lesions. — ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026

Deli meats, like most meats, are a good source of protein, which helps build muscle, and iron, which carries oxygen through the bloodstream, delivering it to tissues around your body. — Anna Dilger, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

In rare circumstances, salmonella can get into the bloodstream and cause more severe illnesses like arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Aug. 2026

When the gut lining is porous, substances can pass through it and enter the bloodstream. — Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bloodstream

• abeam
• airstream
• daydream
• downstream
• esteem
• extreme
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• mainstream
• midstream

Kids Definition

bloodstream

noun

blood·​stream -ˌstrēm 

: the flowing blood in a living thing with a circulatory system

Medical Definition

bloodstream

noun

blood·​stream -ˌstrēm 

: the flowing blood in a circulatory system