red blood cell
noun
variants
or less commonly red blood corpuscle
or red cell
or red corpuscle
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and in mammals are typically biconcave disks which lack a nucleus and cellular organelles and are formed from nucleated cells of the red bone marrow
Note: The number of red blood cells ranges from four to six million in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. The red color of blood is due to the presence of hemoglobin within the red blood cells.
called also erythrocyte
compare white blood cellExamples of red blood cell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Jaundice is caused by a buildup of bilirubin, a substance the body makes when red blood cells break down.
—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Bone marrow produces red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body; white blood cells, which help fight infection; and platelets, which are essential for blood clotting.
—
Priya Bhardwaj,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Key Takeaways Iron and vitamin B12 are both essential nutrients found in foods and supplements that help maintain healthy red blood cells.
—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
19 June 2026
The team looked at hematopoietic stem cells, the blood-forming stem cells that generate every red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet in the body, and zeroed in on the lysosome, the part of the cell that handles cellular recycling.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for red blood cell
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Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
24 June 2026
Bone marrow produces red blood cells, which carry oxygen throughout the body; white blood cells, which help fight infection; and platelets, which are essential for blood clotting.
—
Priya Bhardwaj,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Key Takeaways Iron and vitamin B12 are both essential nutrients found in foods and supplements that help maintain healthy red blood cells.
—
Jessica Swirble,
Verywell Health,
19 June 2026
The team looked at hematopoietic stem cells, the blood-forming stem cells that generate every red blood cell, white blood cell and platelet in the body, and zeroed in on the lysosome, the part of the cell that handles cellular recycling.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for red blood cell
Cite this Entry
“Red blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20blood%20cell. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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