oxidative

American  

[ahk-si-dayt-iv] / ˈɑk sɪˌdeɪt ɪv /

adjective

1. Chemistry. relating to, causing, resulting from, or involving oxidation, the process in which a substance is combined with oxygen.

2. Biochemistry. relating to physical stress or cell damage caused by an excess of free radicals and an insufficiency of antioxidants in the body.

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Example Sentences

These include activating immune cells, increasing oxidative stress, disrupting the blood-brain barrier, interfering with mitochondria, and damaging neurons.

From Science Daily • Mar. 13, 2026

"Over time, the diet caused remodeling of the mice's muscles, making them more oxidative and making them react better to aerobic exercise."

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

The material activates two separate chemical reactions once inside a tumor cell, overwhelming it with oxidative stress while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

Laboratory experiments showed that this oxidative stress activates a protective response in keratinocytes, the skin cells responsible for repairing wounds.

From Science Daily • Jan. 20, 2026

Matter changes hands, atoms flow in and out, molecules pivot, proteins stitch together, mitochondria send out their oxidative dictates; we begin as a microscopic electrical swarm.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr