SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

hemosiderin

noun he·mo·sid·er·in \ ˌhē-mō-ˈsi-də-rən \

Definition of hemosiderin

: a yellowish-brown granular intracellular pigment that is formed in some phagocytic cells (such as macrophages) by the breakdown of hemoglobin and is probably essentially a denatured form of ferritin

Origin and Etymology of hemosiderin

International Scientific Vocabulary hem- + sider- + ¹-in

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1885

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

hemosiderin

noun he·mo·sid·er·in

variants: or chiefly British haemosiderin play \ˌhē-mō-ˈsid-ə-rən\

medical Definition of hemosiderin

: a yellowish brown granular pigment formed by breakdown of hemoglobin, found in phagocytes and in tissues especially in disturbances of iron metabolism (as in hemochromatosis, hemosiderosis, or some anemias), and composed essentially of colloidal ferric oxide — compare ferritin

Learn More about hemosiderin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hemosiderin

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up hemosiderin? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

slew

play

a large number

BROWSE DICTIONARY

hemorrhoid

hemorrhoidal

hemosiderin

hemostasis

hemostat

Test Your Vocabulary

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-5adf93a49b0b2

The Fossil Encased in "Case In Point"

"In point" only lives in this phrase.

alt-5adf5d017e6bf

‘Sleight’ or ‘Slight’ of Hand?

Watch closely and be amazed.

alt-5ade0f1ca7a0c

'Complement' vs. 'Compliment'

The distinction is clear (now).

Words from Letters in the Greek Alphabet

When English borrows from another alphabet

Ask the Editors

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

How we chose 'feminism'

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

video-literally

Literally

How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.

video-his-or-her

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

The awkward case of 'his or her'

Word Games

Odd Habits and Quirks Quiz

Test your knowledge of strange human behaviors.

Take the quiz

cats-on-impossible-timber

More Confusing Words—Quiz

How many of these commonly confused words do you know?

Take the quiz

Name That Thing

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz

Dictionary Devil

Dictionary Devil

The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?

Play the game