blood count

American

noun

the count of the number of red and white blood cells and platelets in a specific volume of blood.

blood count British

noun

the number of red and white blood corpuscles and platelets in a specific sample of blood See haemocytometer

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of blood count

First recorded in 1895–1900

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

So, the reason why your white blood count doesn’t spike right away when you get cancer is because your white blood cells are meant to attack alien things.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026

This number is routinely calculated from a complete blood count, a common test used to detect infections and assess immune health.

From Science Daily • Apr. 22, 2026

"And the CBC analysis device has stopped due to being overloaded," he added, referring to the complete blood count test used to diagnose and monitor numerous diseases.

From BBC • May 10, 2024

While some health care providers routinely measure B12 and other vitamin levels, a typical well-check exam includes only a complete blood count and a metabolic panel, neither of which measures B12 status.

From Salon • Nov. 30, 2022

He had a high fever and his blood count was abnormal.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023