monocyte

noun

mono·​cyte ˈmä-nə-ˌsīt 

: a large white blood cell with finely granulated chromatin dispersed throughout the nucleus that is formed in the bone marrow, enters the blood, and migrates into the connective tissue where it differentiates into a macrophage

monocytic

ˌmä-nə-ˈsi-tik 

adjective

Examples of monocyte in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Next, white blood cells called monocytes race to the scene and change into macrophages. — Melinda Wenner Moyer, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2026

The findings suggest monocytes might be manipulated into producing more signals to calm pain, but any real-world treatments are still likely years away. — Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026

The reason appears to lie in how monocytes behave after injury. — Geoffroy Laumet, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026

Higher levels of testosterone in males promoted higher production of IL-10 by monocytes. — Geoffroy Laumet, The Conversation, 24 Feb. 2026

Macrophages and monocytes are central players, intensifying injury and shifting the body's defenses toward a more aggressive state. — Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 11 Jan. 2026

To guide these SWEDs to the brain, they're fused with living immune cells called monocytes to create a cell–electronics hybrid. — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 12 Nov. 2025

What's more, inside the plaques themselves, the number of monocytes was cut by 81%, compared with untreated mice, and the genes that normally drive inflammation inside the arterial walls were dialed down. — New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1913, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for monocyte

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

Kids Definition

monocyte

noun

mono·​cyte ˈmän-ə-ˌsīt 

: a large white blood cell that is formed in the bone marrow and travels to the connective tissues where it develops into a macrophage

Medical Definition

monocyte

noun

mono·​cyte ˈmän-ə-ˌsīt 

: a large white blood cell with finely granulated chromatin dispersed throughout the nucleus that is formed in the bone marrow, enters the blood, and migrates into the connective tissue where it differentiates into a macrophage

monocytic

ˌmän-ə-ˈsit-ik 

adjective

monocytoid

-ˈsīt-ˌȯid 

adjective