toxoid

American  

[tok-soid] / ˈtɒk sɔɪd /

noun

1. a toxin rendered nontoxic by treatment with chemical agents or by physical means and used for administration into the body in order to produce specific immunity by stimulating the production of antibodies.

---

toxoid British  

/ ˈtɒksɔɪd /

noun

1. a toxin that has been treated to reduce its toxicity and is used in immunization to stimulate production of antitoxins

---

toxoid Scientific  

/ tŏk′soid′ /

1. A substance that is normally toxic but has been treated to destroy its toxic properties without eliminating its capacity to stimulate the production of antitoxins by the immune system.

---

Etymology

Origin of toxoid

First recorded in 1890–95; tox(in) + -oid

Example Sentences

This toxoid vaccine, widely available in the United States as of the early 1940s, was what actually wiped out diphtheria in the country.

From Slate • Feb. 9, 2021

Moreover, when the researchers injected these mice with tetanus toxoid, most of the animals produced human antietanus antibodies, further proof that their new immune systems were functioning as though they were naturally human.

From Time Magazine Archive

He can give toxoid, which takes a while to build up immunity and may work too slowly.

From Time Magazine Archive

What he wants is nothing less than an all-out campaign to eradicate tetanus in the U.S. by having every man, woman and child immunized with toxoid and periodic booster shots.

From Time Magazine Archive

U.S. health officials disagree with the current British theory: that more dangerous new strains of diphtheria bacilli have developed, in the U.S., the standard treatments�immunization with toxoid injections, therapy with antitoxin�are still effective.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• bacteria
• contamination
• germ
• toxin
• venom
• virus