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

Indeed, haemoglobin measures the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen, while ferritin measures the iron stored in the body. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 6 Nov. 2026

Cleland, who was not involved in the new study, said future research could help scientists better understand how red blood cells might change after an animal dies, which could possibly explain Aratasaurus’ odd cell shapes. — Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2026

One medium baked potato contains 24% of the DV for vitamin B6, which helps produce red blood cells, convert food into energy, and regulate mood and sleep. — Lindsey Desoto, HEALTH, 3 Nov. 2026

The iron in lentils can help maintain healthy energy levels by being a component of hemoglobin in red blood cells, which delivers oxygen throughout the body and reduces fatigue. — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for red blood cell

• bagatelle
• calomel
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal
• coronel
• decibel
• demoiselle
• fontanelle

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