necrosis

American  

[nuh-kroh-sis, ne-] / nəˈkroʊ sɪs, nɛ- /

noun

1. death of a circumscribed portion of animal or plant tissue.

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necrosis British  

/ nɛˈkrəʊsɪs, nɛˈkrɒtɪk /

noun

1. the death of one or more cells in the body, usually within a localized area, as from an interruption of the blood supply to that part

2. death of plant tissue due to disease, frost, etc

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necrosis Scientific  

/ nə-krō′sĭs /

1. The death of cells or tissues from severe injury or disease, especially in a localized area of the body. Causes of necrosis include inadequate blood supply (as in infarcted tissue), bacterial infection, traumatic injury, and hyperthermia.

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Other Word Forms

• necrotic adjective

Etymology

Origin of necrosis

First recorded in 1655–65; from New Latin, from Greek nékrōsis “mortification, state of death”; necr-, -osis

Compare meaning

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

• gangrene vs. necrosis
• infarction vs. necrosis

Example Sentences

The researchers also reported increased release of pro-inflammatory messengers, including interleukin-6, interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

From Science Daily • Nov. 30, 2025

Doctors said the pressure of the magnets had caused necrosis -- tissue death -- in four areas of the boy's small bowel and caecum, which is part of the large intestine.

From Barron's • Oct. 24, 2025

The opposite occurred, though, with necrosis setting in.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2025

"You see what we call necrosis, losing tissue, until you get a bare skeleton. And their mortality is very rapid; the entire process takes about 48 hours."

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2023

The light had become the putrid green of necrosis, reflected in the bottles of amber tinctures cluttering the shelves.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

Related Words

• decease
• demise
• dying
• expiration
• loss of life
• passing