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 cell

Examples of red blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Some people show no symptoms, but for some, the disease can result in the development of hemolytic anemia—a condition where your red blood cells are destroyed faster than they can be replaced. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025

This anemia happens when your red blood cells break down faster than normal. —Becca Longmire, People.com, 4 July 2025

Vitamin B12 supports energy, red blood cell formation, nerve function, and DNA production. —Ashley Braun, Verywell Health, 1 July 2025

Some examples include red blood cell formation, brain function, skin health, converting food to energy, heart health, and much more.8 There are 13 essential vitamins. —Isabel Vasquez Rd Ldn, Health, 24 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for red blood cell

• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle
• infidel
• isabel

Kids Definition

red blood cell

noun

: a reddish cell of the blood that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

Medical Definition

red blood cell

noun

: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of vertebrate blood

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

compare white blood cell