white blood cell
Americannoun
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white blood cells
plural
noun
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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.
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Also called leukocyte
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of white blood cell
First recorded in 1885–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
To study how these cells react to inflammatory signals, the researchers developed a method for converting a type of white blood cell into microglia.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 7, 2026
They also found that while high white blood cell counts are usually a warning sign, in serious infection a low count can signal the immune system is becoming overwhelmed.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
Over time, the glitches in individual cells add up; a single white blood cell from a 100-year-old, we learn, typically contains more than 3,000 mutations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 2026
Inflammatory indicators included C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, white blood cell count, and platelet count.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 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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