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Synonyms

blood poisoning

American  

noun

Pathology.

  1. invasion of the blood by toxic matter or microorganisms, characterized by chills, sweating, fever, and prostration; toxemia; septicemia; pyemia.

blood poisoning British  

noun

  1. a nontechnical term for septicaemia

"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
blood poisoning Scientific  

  1. See toxemia

Etymology

Origin of blood poisoning

First recorded in 1860–65

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.

Meningococcal septicaemia, where patients become seriously ill with blood poisoning and inflammation of the brain, is classed as an urgent notifiable disease.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

Before the development of penicillin, blood poisoning could follow even minor wounds with no cure available.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2025

The bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common pathogens worldwide, which can cause severe bloodstream infections -- also called sepsis or blood poisoning.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

She died later that night, Francois said, likely from sepsis, or blood poisoning by bacteria.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 25, 2023

“You’ve got to keep them clean, otherwise the infection could spread and—” “I know what blood poisoning is, Katniss,” says Peeta.

From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.