toxicity

[ tok-sis-i-tee ]

/ tɒkˈsɪs ɪ ti /

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noun, plural tox·ic·i·ties.

the quality, relative degree, or specific degree of being toxic or poisonous: to determine the toxicity of arsenic.

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Origin of toxicity

First recorded in 1880–85; toxic + -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM toxicity

hy·per·tox·ic·i·ty, nounnon·tox·ic·i·ty, noun

Words nearby toxicity

toxic, toxicant, toxication, toxic bank, toxic effect, toxicity, toxic masculinity, toxico-, toxicogenic, toxicol., toxicology

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use toxicity in a sentence

“We cannot allow the toxicity of our society to influence our better judgment,” Johnson said.
Bethesda bike-trail assailant receives probation for attack in flier-snatching case|Dan Morse|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
The latest paper demonstrates an even deeper source of toxicity.
An AI saw a cropped photo of AOC. It autocompleted her wearing a bikini.|Karen Hao|January 29, 2021|MIT Technology Review
His company ignored warnings about online toxicity for years.
How Twitter is handling the 2021 US presidential transition|Natasha Lomas|January 15, 2021|TechCrunch
If there’s some toxicity in the space already and you’re bringing in more people, you’re just putting more people in a toxic environment.
‘No one fix’: Giant Spoon’s new diverse audience marketing vp Kenny Mac on working with brands to improve diversity and inclusion|Kristina Monllos|December 17, 2020|Digiday

Doran Fink, deputy director of the FDA’s clinical division of vaccines and related products applications, told agency advisers the agency expects development and toxicity data on use of the vaccine in pregnant animals later this month.
With key endorsement, Pfizer vaccine speeds toward FDA emergency approval|Claire Zillman, reporter|December 11, 2020|Fortune
The broader issue is also playing out without the usual toxicity.
Dear GOP: Fix the Damn Justice System!|Jonathan Alter|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This is a story about the toxicity of the right-wing echo chamber.
The Right-Wing Crusade Against KStew: How Fear Factories Like Breitbart and Fox Distort News|Marlow Stern|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As Reagan injected the toxicity of racial division into the American body politic, Jackson spoke about “coming up together”.
The Unsung Heroism of Jesse Jackson|David Masciotra|September 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Its civility has been crushed; its fragile peace has been blown apart by the mindless toxicity of a summer of violence.
The Gaza War Has Left Jerusalem More Divided Than Ever|Peter Schwartzstein|August 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why tolerate toxicity in a powerful sphere of modern life that has the potential to—and does—benefit so many?
Zelda Williams Is the Latest to Leave Twitter Because of Ugly Attacks|Tauriq Moosa|August 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The products of roasting inter-react to produce many compounds of varying degrees of complexity and toxicity.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
Caffein aids the action of nitrates, acetanilid, ethyl alcohol and amyl alcohol, and increases the toxicity of barium chloride.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
No data are as yet available as to the influence of altitude and partial starvation on the toxicity of barium salts.
Barium, A Cause of the Loco-Weed Disease|Albert Cornelius Crawford
With increase of temperature the toxicity of a given dilution increases, and vice versa.
The Home Medical Library, Volume V (of VI)|Various
The claim of comparative non-toxicity is probable enough from what is known about the cacodylate.
The Propaganda for Reform in Proprietary Medicines, Vol. 1 of 2|Various

British Dictionary definitions for toxicity

toxicity

/ (tɒkˈsɪsɪtɪ) /

noun

the degree of strength of a poison

the state or quality of being poisonous

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