white blood cell

noun

: any of the blood cells that are colorless, lack hemoglobin, contain a nucleus, and include the lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils

called also leukocyte, white blood corpuscle, white cell

compare red blood cell

Examples of white blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Baby wet cough: A wet cough causes phlegm or mucus (which contains white blood cells to help fight germs) to form in the baby's airways. —Evan Forster, Parents, 17 June 2024

But if someone has a non-cancerous disorder, doctors will usually use drugs to suppress the immune system rather than kill white blood cells. —Julia Landwehr, Health, 13 June 2024

The macrophage eats the virus, creating antigens that kick-start T-cells, which then activate B-cells to help white blood cells attack the cold virus. —Vulture Editors, Vulture, 11 June 2024

Jay also struggled with eosinophilic esophagitis, which causes the esophagus to become inflamed when the immune system makes white blood cells in reaction to an allergen. —Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

white blood cell

noun

: a colorless blood cell (as a lymphocyte) that lacks hemoglobin and contains a nucleus

called also leukocyte, white blood corpuscle, white cell, white corpuscle

Medical Definition

white blood cell

noun

: any of the blood cells of the immune system that are colorless, lack hemoglobin, contain a nucleus, and include the lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils along with their precursors and derivatives (as macrophages) : leukocyte

—abbreviation WBC

called also white blood corpuscle, white cell, white corpuscle

compare red blood cell