: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral)
especially
: a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium
called also blood platelet, thrombocyte
Examples of platelet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Humans Some products are infused with exosomes created from human stem cells or platelets from blood.
—
Victoria Moorhouse, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025
There are many ways to make a difference, like donating blood or platelets, volunteering your time, or showing up for a friend.
—Maureen Carrig, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
But, after the initial tests, we were told that there would be no chemo that day, because Jim’s platelet count was low.
—Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
The researchers believe that the benefit likely comes from aspirin acting in several ways – by reducing inflammation and inhibiting platelet function and tumor growth.
—New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025
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Victoria Moorhouse, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025
There are many ways to make a difference, like donating blood or platelets, volunteering your time, or showing up for a friend.
—Maureen Carrig, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
But, after the initial tests, we were told that there would be no chemo that day, because Jim’s platelet count was low.
—Ann Patchett, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
The researchers believe that the benefit likely comes from aspirin acting in several ways – by reducing inflammation and inhibiting platelet function and tumor growth.
—New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for platelet
Cite this Entry
“Platelet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platelet. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
platelet
noun
plate·let
ˈplāt-lət 
: one of the tiny colorless disk-shaped bodies of the blood of mammals that assist in blood clotting
Medical Definition
platelet
noun
plate·let
ˈplāt-lət
: a minute colorless anucleate disklike body of mammalian blood that is derived from fragments of megakaryocyte cytoplasm, that is released from the bone marrow into the blood, and that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium
called also blood platelet, thrombocyte
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