lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt 

: any of the colorless weakly motile cells originating from stem cells and differentiating in lymphoid tissue (as of the thymus or bone marrow) that are the typical cellular elements of lymph, include the cellular mediators of immunity, and constitute 20 to 30 percent of the white blood cells of normal human blood compare b cell, t cell

lymphocytic

ˌlim(p)-fə-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Examples of lymphocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stage 3 lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in a type of white blood cell called lymphocytes and has spread to lymph nodes on both sides of the diaphragm. —Marla Anderson, Verywell Health, 2 July 2025

Stage 4 lymphoma is a cancer of white blood cells called lymphocytes that has spread outside the lymph nodes to other parts of the body. —Gagandeep Brar, Verywell Health, 4 June 2025

Rosenberg's trial uses tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or TILs -- immune cells that are part of the body's own defense system, taken directly from a patient's own tumor. —Liz Neporent, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2025

Gastric Lymphoma Gastric lymphoma is a rare type of stomach cancer that starts in the lymphocytes, a white blood cell in your immune system. —Carrie Madormo, Rn, Health, 24 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing lymphocyte

• B lymphocyte
• cytolytic T lymphocyte
• cytotoxic T lymphocyte
• killer T lymphocyte
• T lymphocyte

Rhymes for lymphocyte

• acolyte
• aconite
• allanite
• alunite
• amberlite
• ammonite
• amorite
• amphitrite
• analyte
• anchorite
• andesite
• anhydrite

Kids Definition

lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt 

: any of the white blood cells that arise in the bone marrow, are found especially in special tissue (as of the lymph nodes and spleen), blood, and lymph, and play an important role in the immune response compare b cell, t cell

Medical Definition

lymphocyte

noun

lym·​pho·​cyte ˈlim(p)-fə-ˌsīt 

: any of the colorless weakly motile cells that originate from stem cells and differentiate in lymphoid tissue (as of the thymus or bone marrow), that are the typical cellular elements of lymph, that include the cellular mediators of immunity, and that constitute 20 to 30 percent of the white blood cells of normal human blood see b cell, t cell

lymphocytic

ˌlim(p)-fə-ˈsit-ik 

adjective