red blood cell

noun

variants or less commonly red blood corpuscle or red cell or red corpuscle
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and in mammals are typically biconcave disks which lack a nucleus and cellular organelles and are formed from nucleated cells of the red bone marrow

Note: The number of red blood cells ranges from four to six million in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. The red color of blood is due to the presence of hemoglobin within the red blood cells.

called also erythrocyte

compare white blood cell

Examples of red blood cell in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Therefore, an easy to way to measure and monitor this damaging effect is when glucose combines with the proteins in the hemoglobin of red blood cells. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 24 Oct. 2024 Cancer in the liver interferes with the normal processing of bilirubin, which is made from the breakdown of red blood cells. Julie Scott, Msn, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024 Iron helps to make hemoglobin, which carries oxygen through our red blood cells. L'oréal Blackett, refinery29.com, 20 Sep. 2024 For example, polycythemia vera causes the body to make too many red blood cells. Elizabeth Millard, Cpt, SELF, 15 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for red blood cell 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red blood cell.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of red blood cell was in 1850

Dictionary Entries Near red blood cell

Cite this Entry

“Red blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20blood%20cell. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

red blood cell

noun
: a reddish cell of the blood that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

Medical Definition

red blood cell

noun
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and are responsible for the red color of vertebrate blood

called also erythrocyte, red blood corpuscle, red cell, red corpuscle

compare white blood cell

More from Merriam-Webster on red blood cell

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!