neutropenia

noun

neu·​tro·​pe·​nia ˌn(y)ü-trə-ˈpē-nē-ə How to pronounce neutropenia (audio)
: leukopenia in which the decrease in white blood cells is chiefly in neutrophils
neutropenic adjective

Examples of neutropenia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
When neutrophil levels drop too low (a condition called neutropenia), the risk of infection increases.56 People with multiple myeloma are at higher risk of serious infections, including:789 Kidney failure is the second most common cause of death in people with multiple myeloma. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 14 Sep. 2025 The requirement was originally put in place to prevent a rare side effect known as severe neutropenia: a dangerously low white blood cell count that makes people prone to life-threatening infections. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Mar. 2025 Clozapine is also associated with a rare side effect called neutropenia, a drop in white blood cell counts that, in its most severe form, can be life-threatening. Ellen Barry, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025 The 11-year-old has a rare blood disease called chronic cyclic neutropenia, which causes her white cell count to drop dramatically low every three months. Suzanne Malveaux, CNN, 25 Apr. 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from neutro- (from International Scientific Vocabulary neutrophil) + -penia

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neutropenia was in 1915

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neutropenia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neutropenia. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.

Medical Definition

neutropenia

noun
neu·​tro·​pe·​nia ˌn(y)ü-trə-ˈpē-nē-ə How to pronounce neutropenia (audio)
: leukopenia in which the decrease in white blood cells is chiefly in neutrophils
neutropenic adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on neutropenia

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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