toxic

[ tok-sik ]

/ ˈtɒk sɪk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR toxic ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, pertaining to, affected with, or caused by a toxin or poison: a toxic condition.

acting as or having the effect of a poison; poisonous: a toxic drug.

causing unpleasant feelings; harmful or malicious: a toxic boyfriend; toxic criticism.

pertaining to or noting debt that will probably not be repaid: toxic mortgages.

pertaining to or noting a financial instrument or other asset that has no value or an unknown value because there is no market for it: toxic mortgage-backed securities.

noun

a toxic chemical or other substance.

Nearby words

Origin of toxic

1655–65; < Late Latin toxicus poisonous, adj. derivative of Latin toxicum poison < Greek toxikón (orig. short for toxikòn phármakon literally, bow poison, i.e., poison used on arrows), equivalent to tóx(on) bow + -ikon, neuter of -ikos -ic

Related forms

tox·i·cal·ly, adverbhy·per·tox·ic, adjectivenon·tox·ic, adjectivenon·tox·i·cal·ly, adverb

post·tox·ic, adjectiveun·tox·ic, adjectiveun·tox·i·cal·ly, adverb

Can be confusedtoxic toxin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for toxic

But it is not actually as toxic as it seems (although, admittedly, it does seem pretty toxic).
New York’s Conservative Fracking Ban|Jay Michaelson|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Infernal, it can cause fires and explosions; toxic, it can debilitate, poison, and kill.
The Fiery Underground Oil Pit Eating L.A.|Geoff Manaugh|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He feared the laser-etched markings intended to make them look authentic could be toxic to patients.
Patients Screwed in Spine Surgery ‘Scam’|The Center for Investigative Reporting|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They are fair arguments, I guess, but not when you put it up against accusations of toxic drinking water causing weird cancers.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They are lake-sized pits used to store the toxic water that is a byproduct of the mining process.
Our Trip to The Climate War's Ground Zero|Darren Aronofsky|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is antispasmodic, narcotic and toxic, and is used quite commonly with criminal intent in India and Indo-China.
The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines|T. H. Pardo de Tavera
It is to be noted that there are no toxic symptoms in cystic adenoma.
Manual of Surgery Volume Second: Extremities--Head--Neck. Sixth Edition.|Alexander Miles
In the area of toxic agent control, legislation which I submitted to the Congress recently passed.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various
It oxidizes very easily, much more so than any of the other toxic substances which gain access to the liver.
Alcohol: A Dangerous and Unnecessary Medicine, How and Why|Martha M. Allen
Ulceration occurring in toxic, in diphtheritic, and in phlegmonous gastritis need not be discussed here.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II|Various

British Dictionary definitions for toxic

toxic

/ (ˈtɒksɪk) /

adjective

of, relating to, or caused by a toxin or poison; poisonous

harmful or deadly

(of a financial asset) likely to cause significant loss to the holder

Derived Formstoxically, adverb

Word Origin for toxic

C17: from medical Latin toxicus, from Latin toxicum poison, from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) (poison) used on arrows, from toxon arrow

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for toxic

toxic

adj.

1660s, from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus "poisoned," from Latin toxicum "poison," from Greek toxikon (pharmakon) "(poison) for use on arrows," from toxikon, neuter of toxikos "pertaining to arrows or archery," and thus to a bow, from toxon "bow," probably from a Scythian word that also was borrowed into Latin as taxus "yew."

Medicine definitions for toxic