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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.

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

If sepsis, or blood poisoning, occurs, the liver filters out more than 90 percent of the foreign material involved.

From Science Daily • Sep. 28, 2023

She plastered a Band-Aid across it and said, “There, you won’t die from blood poisoning at least.”

From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd

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