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 researchers calculated each participant’s biological age by analyzing nine biomarkers found in blood, such as glucose, red cell distribution width, and white blood cell count. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 5 Aug. 2024

This triggers an immune response, recruiting white blood cells and triggering inflammation. —David Faris, Newsweek, 10 July 2024

Infections begin after an incubation period of five to seven days and present as fever accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle aches, joint pain, bone pain, pain behind the eyes, headache or low white blood cell counts. —Lena H. Sun, Washington Post, 25 June 2024

In the study, the researchers compared the blood samples of people with lupus to a control group to measure the amount of certain white blood cells, T cells. —Richard Sima, Washington Post, 12 July 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