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

The agency has removed a long-standing requirement for patients to submit lab test results showing healthy levels of white blood cells known as neutrophils in order to receive prescriptions for clozapine. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 3 Mar. 2025

An elevated white blood cell count often indicates the presence of an active infection or inflammation. —Crispian Balmer, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2025

Without proper care, opportunistic infections develop, affecting white blood cells and weakening the immune system. —Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

Neutrophils, front-line white blood cells, are rapidly released from the bone marrow in large numbers and recruited to the area, initiating an inflammatory response to clear up dead cell debris. —New Atlas, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for white blood cell

• mademoiselle
• materiel
• subparallel
• antiparallel
• antipersonnel
• bagatelle
• caravel
• carousel
• carrousel
• citadel
• clientele
• commonweal

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