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allergen

[al-er-juh n, -jen]
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noun Immunology.
  1. any substance, often a protein, that induces an allergy: common allergens include pollen, grasses, dust, and some medications.
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Origin of allergen

First recorded in 1910–15; aller(gy) + -gen
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

danderirritantpollenantigenragweed
British Dictionary definitions for allergen

allergen

noun
  1. any substance capable of inducing an allergy
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Derived Formsallergenic, adjectiveallergenicity, noun
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

Word Origin and History for allergen

n.

substance causing allergy, 1912, from allergy on model of antigen.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
allergen in Medicine

allergen

(ăl′ər-jən)
n.
  1. A substance, such as pollen, that causes an allergy.
  2. antigen
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Related formsal′ler•gen′ic (-jĕn′ĭk) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
allergen in Science

allergen

[ăl′ər-jən]
  1. A substance, such as pollen, that causes an allergic reaction.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.