haemoglobin

British

/ ˌhiːməʊˈɡləʊbɪn, ˌhɛm- /

noun

a conjugated protein, consisting of haem and the protein globin, that gives red blood cells their characteristic colour. It combines reversibly with oxygen and is thus very important in the transportation of oxygen to tissues See also oxyhaemoglobin

"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

Etymology

Origin of haemoglobin

C19: shortened from haematoglobulin, from _haematin + _globulin the two components

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.

See Examples For:

haemoglobin

Having returned to the USA, Vonn explained she had a six-hour reconstructive operation on Wednesday, but also needed a blood transfusion as she had "low haemoglobin due to all the blood loss and surgeries".

From BBC ● Feb. 23, 2026

It increases the number of red blood cells in the body and haemoglobin - a protein that carries oxygen - found in those cells.

From BBC ● Dec. 4, 2024

When we are still in the womb, our bodies use "fetal haemoglobin" to pull oxygen out of our mother's bloodstream.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024

People with beta thalassaemia struggle to produce enough haemoglobin, which is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2024

In association with this, oxyhaemoglobin has a typical bright red colour, whereas haemoglobin is dark purple.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 1 "Bisharin" to "Bohea" by Various

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