phagocytosis
noun
phago·cy·to·sis
ˌfa-gə-sə-ˈtō-səs 
-sī-
plural phagocytoses
ˌfa-gə-sə-ˈtō-ˌsēz
-sī-
: the engulfing and usually the destruction of particulate matter by phagocytes that serves as an important bodily defense mechanism against infection by microorganisms and against occlusion of mucous surfaces or tissues by foreign particles and tissue debris
Examples of phagocytosis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
To feed, individual molds engulf bacterial cells whole through a process known as phagocytosis.
—
Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
Even more notable, Loki has genes that code for proteins involved in phagocytosis, the process by which one cell can swallow another — and widely believed to be the way eukaryotes acquired mitochondria, a cell’s power source.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2015
Some of our guardians devour bacteria and fungi in a process known as phagocytosis.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2015
These large immune cells are the infantry of the body's army, and spend their time engulfing enemy forces in a process called phagocytosis.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2016
All the antibodies described here may require additional engineering for potency, extended half-life, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis—all possible with extant technology.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2022
But here’s where the trap comes in: Sprinkled amid the ACE2 receptors are ligands, little molecules that can bind to a cell receptor and, in this case, induce phagocytosis.
—Wired, 28 July 2022
In addition, Yang also found gene-expression changes in microglia, which clean up waste and eat dead cells in a process called phagocytosis.
—Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2021
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Discover Magazine, 29 June 2010
Even more notable, Loki has genes that code for proteins involved in phagocytosis, the process by which one cell can swallow another — and widely believed to be the way eukaryotes acquired mitochondria, a cell’s power source.
—Jonathon Keats, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2015
Some of our guardians devour bacteria and fungi in a process known as phagocytosis.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2015
These large immune cells are the infantry of the body's army, and spend their time engulfing enemy forces in a process called phagocytosis.
—Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 19 Apr. 2016
All the antibodies described here may require additional engineering for potency, extended half-life, and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis—all possible with extant technology.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 5 Oct. 2022
But here’s where the trap comes in: Sprinkled amid the ACE2 receptors are ligands, little molecules that can bind to a cell receptor and, in this case, induce phagocytosis.
—Wired, 28 July 2022
In addition, Yang also found gene-expression changes in microglia, which clean up waste and eat dead cells in a process called phagocytosis.
—Stephani Sutherland, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Phagocytosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/phagocytosis. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
phagocytosis
noun
phago·cy·to·sis
ˌfag-ə-sə-ˈtō-səs, -sī-
plural phagocytoses
-ˌsēz
: the engulfing and usually the destruction of particulate matter by phagocytes that serves as an important bodily defense mechanism against infection by microorganisms and against occlusion of mucous surfaces or tissues by foreign particles and tissue debris
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