platelet

noun

plate·​let ˈplāt-lət How to pronounce platelet (audio)
: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral)
especially : a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium

called also blood platelet, thrombocyte

Examples of platelet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the new finding published in the journal Blood shows that these stem cells, capable of producing a variety of cells including red blood cells and platelets which form blood clots and aid in tissue healing, are also found in the lungs. Victoria Forster, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025 Injuries, straining, low platelets (cells that form a plug to stop the bleeding after injury), platelet dysfunction, and weak or swollen blood vessels can also cause petechiae.23 Certain health conditions and medications can cause petechiae. Brandi Jones, Msn-Ed, Health, 7 Feb. 2025 Francis developed a low platelet count, a condition called platelopenia or thrombocytopenia. Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025 After receiving a plasma-rich platelet injection and going through rehab, Ashcraft showed up to Goodyear ready to compete for a spot on the roster. C. Trent Rosecrans, The Athletic, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for platelet

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of platelet was in 1888

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Platelet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platelet. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

platelet

noun
plate·​let ˈplāt-lət How to pronounce platelet (audio)
: one of the tiny colorless disk-shaped bodies of the blood of mammals that assist in blood clotting

Medical Definition

platelet

noun
plate·​let ˈplāt-lət How to pronounce platelet (audio)
: a minute colorless anucleate disklike body of mammalian blood that is derived from fragments of megakaryocyte cytoplasm, that is released from the bone marrow into the blood, and that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium

called also blood platelet, thrombocyte

More from Merriam-Webster on platelet

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!