killer T cell

noun

variants or less commonly killer T lymphocyte
plural killer T cells also killer T lymphocytes
: cytotoxic t cell
The antigen receptors of killer T cells allow them to recognize the viral peptides, which signal that a cell must be destroyed as unhealthy.— Harald von Boehmer et al.
A subset of lymphocytes known as killer T cells may also respond to the envelope protein by destroying infected cells.— William A. Haseltine et al.

Examples of killer T cell in a Sentence

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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.
Something about this shape made the HLA-HIV combination on infected cells in elite controllers extraordinarily good for being seen by killer T cells, which then destroyed the infected cell. — Bruce D. Walker, Scientific American, 1 July 2012 In a recent study published in the journal Immunity, Wherry and colleagues found that in healthy people with no prior COVID-19 infection, helper T cells rose after the first dose and killer T cell counts rose after the second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. — Miriam Fauzia, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of killer T cell was in 1971

Rhymes for killer T cell

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killer plant
killer T cell
killer whale
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Cite this Entry

“Killer T cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/killer%20T%20cell. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

killer T cell

noun
: a T cell that binds to and destroys cells (as one infected by a virus) which display specific antigens on their surface

Medical Definition

killer T cell

noun
variants also killer T lymphocyte
: cytotoxic t cell

More from Merriam-Webster on killer T cell

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about killer T cell

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