noun
allergen
AL-er-jen
Allergen (noun) means an allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in the body. Example: “Pollen is a common allergen for many people during spring.”
noun
1
medicine An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in the body.
"Pollen is a common allergen for many people during spring."
"The food label lists every allergen the product contains."
"Doctors ran tests to find out which allergen was causing her rash."
How to use allergen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn allergen is something that sets off an allergic reaction.
When to use it
The word is a medical and food-labelling term rather than everyday conversation.
Memory tip
Notice the shared ending with pathogen and antigen, all words for things that cause a bodily reaction.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
a common allergen
exposure to an allergen
list of allergens
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Pollen is a common _____ for many people during spring.
Etymology
Allergen was formed by shortening and joining allergy with the suffix -gen, following the same pattern used to coin other medical words such as pathogen and antigen.
Rhymes for allergen
See all rhymes for allergen →Frequently asked questions
What is an allergen?
An allergen is any substance that triggers an allergic reaction in a person's body.
What are common examples of allergens?
Pollen and certain foods are commonly listed as allergens on labels and in medical advice.
Why do food labels mention allergens?
They mention allergens so that people who react to particular substances can avoid products containing them.
What is the meaning of allergen?
"allergen" (noun) means an allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction in the body.
