English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun Uncommon

toxicity

tok-SIHS-uh-tee

Toxicity (noun) means the degree to which a substance is poisonous or harmful. Example: “Scientists tested the toxicity of the new pesticide on fish.”

noun
1
The degree to which a substance is poisonous or harmful.
"Scientists tested the toxicity of the new pesticide on fish."
"High toxicity levels in the soil forced the farm to close."

How to Use Toxicity

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishHow poisonous or harmful something is.

Common pairings
low toxicity toxicity levels test for toxicity

Word Forms

toxicities plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “toxicity” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

Scientists tested the _____ of the new pesticide on fish.

Etymology

Formed from toxic plus the noun-forming suffix -ity, on the pattern of words like "density" or "purity."

Rhymes for toxicity

See all rhymes for toxicity →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “toxicity” mean?

The word “toxicity” means the degree to which a substance is poisonous or harmful. In plain terms, how poisonous or harmful something is.

How do you pronounce “toxicity”?

“Toxicity” is pronounced tok-SIHS-uh-tee (/tɑkˈsɪs.ə.ti/ in IPA).

How do you use “toxicity” in a sentence?

Here is “toxicity” used in a sentence: “Scientists tested the toxicity of the new pesticide on fish.”

What part of speech is “toxicity”?

“Toxicity” is a noun.

Is “toxicity” a common word?

“Toxicity” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between toxicity and toxin?

Toxicity refers to the degree to which a substance is poisonous or harmful, describing a property or level of danger. A toxin is the actual poisonous substance itself that produces that harmful effect.

How is toxicity measured?

Toxicity is generally described in terms of degree, referring to how poisonous or harmful a substance is, which can vary depending on dose, exposure, and the organism affected.

Is toxicity only used for chemical substances?

While toxicity most directly refers to the harmfulness of substances, the term is also used more broadly in everyday language to describe harmful behavior or environments, such as 'toxicity in a workplace.'

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial