lymphocyte

American  

[lim-fuh-sahyt] / ˈlɪm fəˌsaɪt /

noun

Anatomy.

• lymphocytes
  plural

1. a type of white blood cell having a large, spherical nucleus surrounded by a thin layer of nongranular cytoplasm.

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lymphocyte British  

/ ˈlɪmfəʊˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a type of white blood cell formed in lymphoid tissue See also B-lymphocyte T-lymphocyte

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lymphocyte Scientific  

/ lĭm′fə-sīt′ /

1. Any of various white blood cells, including B cells and T cells, that function in the body's immune system by recognizing and deactivating specific foreign substances called antigens. B cells act by stimulating the production of antibodies. T cells contain receptors on their cell surfaces that are capable of recognizing and binding to specific antigens. Lymphocytes are found in the lymph nodes and spleen and circulate continuously in the blood and lymph.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• lymphocytic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• lymphocytes
  plural

Etymology

Origin of lymphocyte

First recorded in 1885–90; lympho- + -cyte

Compare meaning

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

• lymphoblast vs. lymphocyte
• plasma cell vs. lymphocyte

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lymphocyte lymphocytes

This means that gene activity was associated with lymphocyte production within a specific range of lymphocyte output levels.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 26, 2024

The virus itself enters a key cell that’s important in defending your body from outside pathogens, and that cell is the lymphocyte.

From Scientific American ● Mar. 27, 2023

CD4 is a type of molecule called a cell adhesion molecule, which functions to keep different types of immune cells in close proximity to each other during the generation of a T lymphocyte immune response.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

Physicians will routinely look to measures like a patient’s age, lymphocyte count and white blood cell count to gauge how sick he or she may be.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2020

When the connection is made, and a particular lymphocyte with a particular receptor is brought into the presence of the particular antigen, one of the greatest small spectacles in nature occurs.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes act as the immune system's specialized "killer" cells, seeking out and eliminating infected or cancerous cells with remarkable precision.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 30, 2026

Mantle cell lymphoma is rare and affects white blood cells called B lymphocytes.

From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026

When the nanotherapy was paired with medicines that help activate T lymphocytes, another key type of immune cell, the two-dose treatment eliminated tumors in mice and produced long-lasting immunity that prevented the cancer from returning.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 22, 2025

Measles destroys lymphocytes that defend against other bugs to make way for ones that defend against measles, an immunity won at the cost of other protections.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 3, 2025

Not all animals have lymphocytes with the same range of information, as you might expect.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas