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adjective B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

toxic

TOK-sihk
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Toxic (adjective) means Poisonous; capable of causing illness or death if it enters the body. Example: “Keep these cleaning products away from children because they are toxic if swallowed.”

adjective
1
Poisonous; capable of causing illness or death if it enters the body.
"Keep these cleaning products away from children because they are toxic if swallowed."
"The factory was fined for dumping toxic waste into the river."
"Some houseplants are toxic to cats and dogs."
2
Harmful, damaging, or destructive, especially to relationships or mental wellbeing.
"He decided to avoid toxic friends who constantly made him feel small."
"She finally left the toxic relationship after years of put-downs."
"Constant office gossip created a toxic atmosphere on the team."

How to use toxic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishPoisonous, or (informally) deeply harmful to a person's mood, relationships, or environment.

Memory tip

The word originally meant literally poisonous, but today it's just as often used loosely for people or situations that make you feel bad.

Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
toxic waste toxic relationship toxic chemical toxic environment
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Word forms

Comparative
more toxic
Superlative
most toxic
Test yourself on “toxic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Keep these cleaning products away from children because they are _____ if swallowed.

Etymology

From French toxique, from Latin toxicum ("poison"), ultimately from Greek toxikon, "poison for arrows" — from toxon, "bow."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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poisonous venomous noxious harmful deadly hazardous

Antonyms

nontoxic

Related words

safe dangerous evil fatal deadly beneficial harmful adverse

Frequently asked questions

What does “toxic” mean?
The word “toxic” means poisonous; capable of causing illness or death if it enters the body. In plain terms, poisonous, or (informally) deeply harmful to a person's mood, relationships, or environment.
How do you pronounce “toxic”?
“Toxic” is pronounced TOK-sihk (/ˈtɒk.sɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “toxic” in a sentence?
Here is “toxic” used in a sentence: “The factory was fined for dumping toxic waste into the river.”
What part of speech is “toxic”?
“Toxic” is an adjective.
Where does the word “toxic” come from?
The word “toxic” comes from Latin. From French toxique, from Latin toxicum ("poison"), ultimately from Greek toxikon, "poison for arrows" — from toxon, "bow.".
Is “toxic” a common word?
“Toxic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “toxic” have?
“Toxic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: poisonous; capable of causing illness or death if it enters the body.
What is the difference between "toxic" and "poisonous"?
The words are close in meaning, and "toxic" means poisonous. "Poisonous" is the more everyday word, often used for plants, animals, or foods that cause harm if eaten or touched. "Toxic" is broader and applies to chemicals, gases, and figurative harm as well.
What is the difference between "toxic" and "venomous"?
"Toxic" and "poisonous" describe something harmful when it enters the body by being eaten, breathed in, or touched. "Venomous" describes an animal that injects toxins through a bite or sting. A snake can be venomous, while a substance is toxic.
What is the difference between "toxic" and "hazardous"?
"Toxic" specifically means poisonous, capable of causing illness or death if it enters the body. "Hazardous" is a wider word for anything dangerous, including things that are flammable, sharp, or explosive but not poisonous. All toxic things are hazardous, but not all hazards are toxic.

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