phagocytosis

American  

[fag-uh-sahy-toh-sis] / ˌfæg ə saɪˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

1. Physiology. the ingestion of a smaller cell or cell fragment, a microorganism, or foreign particles by means of the local infolding of a cell's membrane and the protrusion of its cytoplasm around the fold until the material has been surrounded and engulfed by closure of the membrane and formation of a vacuole: characteristic of amebas and some types of white blood cells.

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phagocytosis British  

/ ˌfæɡəsaɪˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the process by which a cell, such as a white blood cell, ingests microorganisms, other cells, and foreign particles

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Etymology

Origin of phagocytosis

First recorded in 1890–95; phagocyte + -osis

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Compare meaning

How does phagocytosis compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• phagocytosis vs. pinocytosis

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

phagocytosis

They identified key cellular processes involved in this cleanup, including phagocytosis and lysosomal activity.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 17, 2026

While the phenomenon of "frustrated phagocytosis" had already been observed, its role in the pathogenesis of the concerned diseases had not yet been clearly established.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 5, 2024

Digestion is extracellular, with digested materials taken in to the cells of the gut lining by phagocytosis.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

When a pathogen is detected, these APCs will engulf and break it down through phagocytosis.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013

It was even denied by some that phagocytosis of living bacteria took place, and that all those included in the cells were dead, having been destroyed in the first instance by the serum.

From Disease and Its Causes by William Thomas Councilman

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