endocytosis

American  

[en-doh-sahy-toh-sis] / ˌɛn doʊ saɪˈtoʊ sɪs /

noun

Physiology.

1. the transport of solid matter or liquid into a cell by means of a coated vacuole or vesicle (distinguished from exocytosis).

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endocytosis British  

/ ˌɛndəʊsaɪˈtəʊsɪs /

noun

1. the process by which a living cell takes up molecules bound to its surface

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Other Word Forms

• endocytic
  adjective
• endocytotic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of endocytosis

1960–65; endo- + -cyte + -osis, perhaps on the model of phagocytosis

Compare meaning

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

• endocytosis vs. exocytosis

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

endocytosis

In the new study, Zhou and colleagues used super-resolution imaging on neurons grown in the laboratory and found that the MPS behaves more like a cellular traffic controller, regulating all major forms of endocytosis.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

In findings published in Science Advances, the team showed that the MPS acts as a physical gatekeeper for nearly every major type of endocytosis.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

The researchers also documented how the cells retrieved and recycled vesicles afterward, a process known as endocytosis.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 1, 2025

Plant and animal viruses can enter through endocytosis, in which the cell membrane surrounds and engulfs the entire virus.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

If passage across the membrane of the target of receptor-mediated endocytosis is ineffective, it will not be removed from the tissue fluids or blood.

From Textbooks ● Apr. 25, 2013