ferritin

noun

fer·​ri·​tin ˈfer-ə-tən How to pronounce ferritin (audio)
: a crystalline iron-containing protein that functions in the storage of iron and is found especially in the liver and spleen

Examples of ferritin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The ferritin test is a blood test that measures ferritin levels in the bloodstream. Lindsay Curtis, Health, 5 Nov. 2024 The researchers engineered an ion channel protein with a protein nanobody that sticks to a natural iron-trapping protein called ferritin. New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2024 To determine someone’s iron count, labs look at the concentration of ferritin — the protein that stores iron — in their blood. Lourdes Medrano, NPR, 15 Sep. 2024 Research has demonstrated that low levels of ferritin cause a disruption in dopamine activity. Kate Harrington, The Conversation, 25 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for ferritin 

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, alteration of ferratin, iron-containing protein, from Latin ferratus bound with iron (from ferrum) + International Scientific Vocabulary -in

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ferritin was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near ferritin

Cite this Entry

“Ferritin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferritin. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

ferritin

noun
fer·​ri·​tin ˈfer-ət-ən How to pronounce ferritin (audio)
: a crystalline iron-containing protein that functions in the storage of iron and is found especially in the liver and spleen compare hemosiderin

More from Merriam-Webster on ferritin

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!