neutrophil

American  

[noo-truh-fil, nyoo-] / ˈnu trə fɪl, ˈnju- /

Also neutrophile

adjective

1. (of a cell or cell part) having an affinity for neutral dyes.

---

noun

1. a phagocytic white blood cell having a lobulate nucleus and neutrophil granules in the cytoplasm.

neutrophil British  

/ ˈnjuːtrəˌfaɪl, ˈnjuːtrəˌfɪl /

noun

1. a leucocyte having a lobed nucleus and a fine granular cytoplasm, which stains with neutral dyes

---

adjective

1. (of cells and tissues) readily stainable by neutral dyes

Etymology

Origin of neutrophil

First recorded in 1885–90; neutro- + -phil

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

neutrophil

This signal sets off a process known as "emergency granulopoiesis" -- a rapid increase in neutrophil production in the bone marrow -- followed by the movement of these cells into the gut.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 25, 2026

For example, a type of immune cell called a neutrophil migrates toward areas in the body that have a higher concentration of a protein called IL-8, which increases during infection.

From Salon ● Jan. 10, 2023

A basophil is a leukocyte that, like a neutrophil, releases chemicals to stimulate the inflammatory response as illustrated in Figure 33.5.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

It’s the story of the neutrophil, a type of white blood cell that’s like an immune-system soldier.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 17, 2022

The neutrophil pseudolymphocytes are exceedingly infrequent, and represent products of division of the polynuclear cells; they were first described by Ehrlich in a case of hemorrhagic small-pox.

From Histology of the Blood Normal and Pathological by W. Myers