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

The discovery explains why attempts in the past to develop hindbrain neurons from ectoderm stem cells failed – those cells had already been locked in as forebrain or midbrain neurons. — Mike McRae 21, New Atlas, 22 Sep. 2026

Scientists converted human skin cells into stem cells, grew them into mini-brain organoids, and injected them into mouse pups. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026

Some of Meir’s favorite experiments took place in the Life Sciences Glovebox, including investigations involving neocartilage and stem cells. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2026

In later stages, the stem cells become progressively more specialized, and each class generates specific types of tissue such as nervous system cells or blood. — Venki Ramakrishnan, Scientific American, 15 Sep. 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