lead poisoning

American  

[led] / lɛd /

noun

1. Pathology.

   1. a toxic condition produced by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption of lead or lead compounds, resulting in various dose-related symptoms including anemia, nausea, muscle weakness, confusion, blindness, and coma.

   2. Also called plumbism, saturnism.  this condition occurring in adults whose work involves contact with lead products.

2. Slang. death or injury inflicted by a bullet or shot.

---

lead poisoning British  

/ lɛd /

noun

1. Also called: plumbism.   saturnism.  acute or chronic poisoning by lead or its salts, characterized by abdominal pain, vomiting, convulsions, and coma

2. slang death or injury resulting from being shot with bullets

---

Etymology

Origin of lead poisoning

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lead poisoning

“Unfortunately, raptors get lead poisoning often, and that’s one of the problems we deal with,” she said, noting that their recent patient has yet to be diagnosed with this.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

We’re proud of the results we’ve achieved over the past 17 months against air and water pollution, lead poisoning, ozone depletion and radioactive waste.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026

“We must get the lead poisoning down,” Sandhaus said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

Authorities revealed on 8 July that 235 children from the privately-owned kindergarten were being treated in hospital for lead poisoning after eating steamed red date cakes and sausage corn buns.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2025

Absurdly, he was excluded from a 1971 National Research Council panel appointed to investigate the dangers of atmospheric lead poisoning even though he was by now unquestionably the leading expert on atmospheric lead.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson