stem cell

noun

: an unspecialized cell that gives rise to differentiated cells

hematopoietic stem cells in bone marrow

Examples of stem cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are a variety of stem-cell options available such as your own bone marrow, your own fat cells, amniotic stem cells, and embryonic stem cells. —Harlan Selesnick, Miami Herald, 23 Jan. 2026

Interested individuals and groups — from researchers to policymakers to prospective parents — should discuss and translate the unease around stem cell IVF into clear guardrails prioritizing safety and child welfare. —Zubin Master, STAT, 20 Jan. 2026

Agathocleous and his colleagues had been studying vitamin C for years, intrigued by its role in blood-forming stem cells. —Jay Kakade january 19, New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2026

The stem cells would be chemically induced into a variety of cells within the liver, such as blood vessels and bile ducts. —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for stem cell

• barbell
• bedwell
• befell
• bluebell
• bombshell
• bridewell
• capelle
• cartel
• carvel
• clamshell
• cogswell
• compel

Kids Definition

stem cell

noun

: a simple cell that can become a cell (as a blood cell or skin cell) with a special function

Medical Definition

stem cell

noun

ˈstem- 

: an unspecialized cell capable of perpetuating itself through cell division and having the potential to give rise to differentiated cells with specialized functions

Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst stage of the embryo.

—Carrie J. Merkle, in Essentials of Pathophysiology

… picture the bone marrow as a blood cell factory that takes a single type of precursor cell, or stem cell, and modifies it in various ways to produce all the cells that circulate in the blood.

—Gina Kolata, Discover

Recent observations are providing increasing evidence for the concept that adult stem cells are part of a natural system for tissue repair.

—Darwin J. Prockop, in Essentials of Stem Cell Biology