photodynamic
adjective
pho·to·dy·nam·ic
ˌfō-tō-(ˌ)dī-ˈna-mik 
: of, relating to, or having the property of intensifying or inducing a toxic reaction to light (as in the destruction of cancer cells stained with a light-sensitive dye) in a living system
Examples of photodynamic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Photodynamic Therapy Another option for wet AMD is photodynamic therapy, which ophthalmologists often use alongside anti-VEGF injections.
—
Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Another option is photodynamic therapy or lasers to remove dysplasia.7
Surgeries
Surgery may be performed in cases where cancer is likely present or there is a high risk of cancer developing.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Mar. 2025
This can often be treated with cryotherapy (extreme cold air treatment), a topical chemotherapeutic agent (a drug that works to slow down or stop cancer cell growth), or photodynamic therapy (a light treatment used to destroy abnormal cells).
—Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024
It’s also used in photodynamic therapy, which utilizes low-power red laser light to drive a cell-destroying chemical reaction that can treat conditions like skin and other types of cancer, psoriasis, acne, and warts, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Erica Sweeney, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
Prager also suggests looking into daylight photodynamic therapy (PDT) which is a gentle but effective treatment for sun damage.
—Maria Goldbach, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2024
There are alternative treatments available for eye melanoma, including photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The treatment in which blue light is used to activate cancer-fighting creams on the skin is called photodynamic therapy, or PDT.
—USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
After his diagnosis, the sportscaster underwent photodynamic therapy on both sides of his face.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023
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Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 7 Apr. 2025
Another option is photodynamic therapy or lasers to remove dysplasia.7
Surgeries
Surgery may be performed in cases where cancer is likely present or there is a high risk of cancer developing.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 7 Mar. 2025
This can often be treated with cryotherapy (extreme cold air treatment), a topical chemotherapeutic agent (a drug that works to slow down or stop cancer cell growth), or photodynamic therapy (a light treatment used to destroy abnormal cells).
—Isadora Baum, Allure, 19 Nov. 2024
It’s also used in photodynamic therapy, which utilizes low-power red laser light to drive a cell-destroying chemical reaction that can treat conditions like skin and other types of cancer, psoriasis, acne, and warts, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
—Erica Sweeney, TIME, 8 Oct. 2024
Prager also suggests looking into daylight photodynamic therapy (PDT) which is a gentle but effective treatment for sun damage.
—Maria Goldbach, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2024
There are alternative treatments available for eye melanoma, including photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
The treatment in which blue light is used to activate cancer-fighting creams on the skin is called photodynamic therapy, or PDT.
—USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024
After his diagnosis, the sportscaster underwent photodynamic therapy on both sides of his face.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Photodynamic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photodynamic. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
photodynamic
adjective
pho·to·dy·nam·ic
-dī-ˈnam-ik
: of, relating to, or having the property of intensifying or inducing a toxic reaction to light (as the destruction of cancer cells stained with a light-sensitive dye) in a living system
photodynamic action
photodynamic therapy
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