white blood cell

American  

noun

• white blood cells
  plural

1. any of various nearly colorless cells of the immune system that circulate mainly in the blood and lymph and participate in reactions to invading microorganisms or foreign particles, comprising the B cells, T cells, macrophages, monocytes, and granulocytes.

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white blood cell British  

noun

1. a nontechnical name for leucocyte

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white blood cell Scientific  

/ wīt /

1. Any of various white or colorless cells in the blood of vertebrate animals, many of which participate in the inflammatory and immune responses to protect the body against infection and to repair injuries to tissues. White blood cells are formed mainly in the bone marrow, and unlike red blood cells, have a cell nucleus. The major types of white blood cells are granulocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes. White blood cells are far less numerous in the blood than red blood cells, but their amount usually increases in response to infection and can be monitored as part of a clinical assessment.

2. Also called leukocyte

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• white blood cells
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of white blood cell

First recorded in 1885–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

white blood cell

As of Friday, tests showed Jackie was still anemic, and an elevated white blood cell count suggests that she is experiencing inflammation or an infection.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Researchers found that a 30-minute sauna session increased the number of every type of circulating white blood cell.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 28, 2026

Their large-scale data analysis pointed to a distinct molecular state in a type of white blood cell known as CD14+ monocytes, which play a key role in immune defense.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 26, 2026

Last month, Oscar had T-cells - a type of white blood cell - removed and sent to a lab in Stevenage.

From BBC ● Jan. 13, 2026

“You probably don’t know this, but it’s not just granny folklore. One published study shows that the soup inhibits the movement of neutrophils, the most common type of white blood cell that defends against infection.”

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

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