programmed cell death

noun

Examples of programmed cell death in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Only later, through programmed cell death and tissue remodeling, do our tails eventually regress; what’s left behind is the coccyx. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2026 With programmed cell death, or apoptosis, the plant lives out its full lifespan. Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 10 Feb. 2026 That's because both diseases alter the way cells decide when to end their lives, a process called programmed cell death. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 16 Oct. 2025 Like similar sulfated polysaccharides, N50 F2 was able to not just interrupt the natural development of these cells, but helped trigger apoptosis – or programmed cell death. New Atlas, 15 Aug. 2025 And so most programmed cell death follows that path. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024 If enough damage builds up, the cell surrenders and undergoes programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Celia Ford, WIRED, 17 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of programmed cell death was in 1964

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Cite this Entry

“Programmed cell death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/programmed%20cell%20death. Accessed 9 May. 2026.

Medical Definition

programmed cell death

noun

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