toxoid

noun

tox·​oid ˈtäk-ˌsȯid How to pronounce toxoid (audio)
: a toxin of a pathogenic organism treated so as to destroy its toxicity but leave it capable of inducing the formation of antibodies on injection

Examples of toxoid 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.
And for vaccination in particular, payments have been successful for human papillomavirus (HPV) in England; hepatitis B in the United States and the United Kingdom; and tetanus toxoid in Nigeria. — The Conversation, oregonlive, 22 May 2021 At the time of the San Antonio epidemic, a vaccine derived from diphtheria toxoid had been in common use for nearly 50 years, and only a few hundred cases were reported annually nationwide. — Paula Allen, ExpressNews.com, 16 Jan. 2021

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

circa 1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toxoid was circa 1894

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toxoid
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Cite this Entry

“Toxoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxoid. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

toxoid

noun
tox·​oid ˈtäk-ˌsȯid How to pronounce toxoid (audio)
: a toxin of a disease-causing organism treated so as to destroy its poisonous effects while leaving it still capable of causing antibodies to form when it is injected into the body

Medical Definition

toxoid

noun
tox·​oid ˈtäk-ˌsȯid How to pronounce toxoid (audio)
: a toxin of a pathogenic organism treated so as to destroy its toxicity but leave it capable of inducing the formation of antibodies on injection
diphtheria toxoid

called also anatoxin

More from Merriam-Webster on toxoid

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toxoid

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