toxicity

American  

[tok-sis-i-tee] / tɒkˈsɪs ɪ ti /

noun

toxicities plural

1. the quality, relative degree, or specific degree of being toxic or poisonous.

   to determine the toxicity of arsenic.

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toxicity British  

/ tɒkˈsɪsɪtɪ /

noun

1. the degree of strength of a poison

2. the state or quality of being poisonous

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hypertoxicity
  noun
• nontoxicity
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• toxicities
  plural

Etymology

Origin of toxicity

First recorded in 1880–85; toxic + -ity

Example Sentences

Toxicity can develop, readily available carbon sources become depleted, and the increase in soil respiration eventually levels off before declining.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

Toxicity is pervasive; draining and self-defeating, but almost unavoidable.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

Toxicity monitoring data from May 8 did not yet show the bloom, and the next sampling will not take place until June 4.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024

Toxicity was the biggest predictor of attrition, researchers found.

From New York Times • Jun. 23, 2022

Relative Toxicity of the Animal Proteins.—The difference between the various animal proteins as to their relative toxicity has been the subject of much discussion.

From Dietetics for Nurses by Proudfit, Fairfax T.