autolysis
noun
au·tol·y·sis
ȯ-ˈtä-lə-səs 
: breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self-produced enzymes
Examples of autolysis in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now that the body’s cells aren’t getting oxygen anymore, the cells go through autolysis, a process in which cells are destroyed by their own enzymes.
—
Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
Cells deprived of oxygen start digesting themselves in a process called autolysis.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Per Liger-Belair, there's a common misconception, even among champagne enthusiasts, that the wine should not age beyond this point, but this yeast autolysis is a slow process, so higher-quality champagnes are allowed to age on lees even longer.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 July 2023
When small fish start to decay, the bacterial flora in their guts burst through cell walls, initiating the process of autolysis.
—Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2021
According to researchers, brains tend to decompose quickly after death in a rapid process of autolysis, where enzymes break up the tissue.
—Fox News, 12 Jan. 2020
This is because of the quick breakdown process known as autolysis, which begins almost immediately after death and involves enzymes breaking down the tissue.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Jan. 2020
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Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2025
Cells deprived of oxygen start digesting themselves in a process called autolysis.
—Jennifer Debruyn, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2023
Per Liger-Belair, there's a common misconception, even among champagne enthusiasts, that the wine should not age beyond this point, but this yeast autolysis is a slow process, so higher-quality champagnes are allowed to age on lees even longer.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 28 July 2023
When small fish start to decay, the bacterial flora in their guts burst through cell walls, initiating the process of autolysis.
—Taras Grescoe, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Oct. 2021
According to researchers, brains tend to decompose quickly after death in a rapid process of autolysis, where enzymes break up the tissue.
—Fox News, 12 Jan. 2020
This is because of the quick breakdown process known as autolysis, which begins almost immediately after death and involves enzymes breaking down the tissue.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN, 8 Jan. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Autolysis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autolysis. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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