detoxify

verb de·tox·i·fy \ (ˌ)dē-ˈtäk-sə-ˌfī \

|Updated on: 20 Jul 2018

Examples: detoxify in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of detoxify

detoxified; detoxifying

transitive verb

1 a : to remove a harmful substance (such as a poison or toxin) or the effect of such from

b : to render (a harmful substance) harmless

2 : to free (someone, such as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance

3 : neutralize 2

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detoxification

play \(ˌ)dē-ˌtäk-sə-fə-ˈkā-shən\ noun

See detoxify defined for English-language learners

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Examples of detoxify in a Sentence

a special tea that is supposed to detoxify the body
a drug addict who is being detoxified

Recent Examples of detoxify from the Web

Sweat is detoxifying Some people pay good money to sit in a sauna and sweat out the bad stuff coursing through their bodies.

— weldon b. johnson, azcentral, "8 reasons to love the Phoenix heat in summer," 14 July 2018
Sun Basket Focusing on detoxifying and anti-inflammatory ingredients, Sun Basket’s Lean & Clean program is designed to cleanse the body and take the hassle out of preparing dinner.

— zoe ruffner, Vogue, "5 New Healthy Meal-Delivery Programs, Just In Time for Summer," 11 July 2018
Finally, their genomes pack in an unusually large number of genes for detoxifying the leaf’s toxins, the scientists report.

— elizabeth pennisi, Science | AAAS, "A koala’s diet would kill most mammals. Their genome reveals how they survive," 2 July 2018
Another beauty tool that Rio discovered on the internet, this at-home facial steamer helps to hydrate skin while clarifying complexion and detoxifying skin.

— the editors, The Strategist, "There Are So Many Things We Love on Sale at Dermstore Right Now," 28 June 2018
Cue ingredients like detoxifying charcoal, cooling peppermint, protein-heavy quinoa extract and hydrating glycerin, all of which will make your body and/or face car wash clean.

— garrett munce, GQ, "We Tried David Beckham's New Grooming Line," 1 Mar. 2018
Cleansers crafted from herbs in the Lamiaceae family, including peppermint, spearmint, basil, sage, rosemary, and lavender, can be deeply detoxifying and nourishing for your scalp, thanks to their antibacterial properties.

— kari molvar, Vogue, "The Supercharged Detox Ingredient That’s Missing From Your Shampoo," 14 June 2018
The menu of services can include a range of treatments, all promising to purify and detoxify.

— audrey cleo yap, Glamour, "At the Korean Spa, $40 Gets Me a Body Scrub and Self-Acceptance," 21 May 2018
This set comes with a detoxifying bath soak made with pink Himalayan and dead sea salts, rose petals, eucalyptus and lavender essential oils, plus an herbal black tea, an all-natural soy candle and a lavender body and room spray.

— NBC News, "10 last-minute Mother's Day gift ideas," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'detoxify.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

These days, detoxify can mean to free (someone) from a substance addiction (and yes, it's the source of detox, a more recent word that also refers to getting drugs or alcohol out of a person's system). Originally, however, detoxification was something done to things rather than to people. In its earliest uses - from about 1905 - detoxify referred to the removal of poison, or of poisonous or damaging properties, from a harmful substance, or to the removal of poisonous or toxic substances from something contaminated (such as the bloodstream).The specific application to removing poison from an addict is relatively new, dating to the mid-20th century. Today, detoxify is also often used generally in reference to counteracting the activity or effect of anything harmful (such as propaganda).

First Known Use of detoxify

circa 1905

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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DETOXIFY Defined for English Language Learners

detoxify

verb

Definition of detoxify for English Language Learners

: to remove a poisonous or harmful substance from (something)
: to cause (someone) to stop using drugs or alcohol by providing special help and treatment

Medical Dictionary

detoxify

verb de·tox·i·fy \ (ˈ)dē-ˈtäk-sə-ˌfī \

medical Definition of detoxify

detoxified; detoxifying

transitive verb

1 a : to remove a poison or toxin or the effect of such from

b : to render (a harmful substance) harmless

2 : to free (as a drug user or an alcoholic) from an intoxicating or an addictive substance in the body or from dependence on or addiction to such a substance