noun
Uncommon
toxin
TOK-sihn
Toxin (noun) means a poisonous substance, especially one produced naturally by a living organism such as bacteria, a plant, or an animal. Example: “The bacteria release a toxin that causes food poisoning.”
noun
1
A poisonous substance, especially one produced naturally by a living organism such as bacteria, a plant, or an animal.
"The bacteria release a toxin that causes food poisoning."
"Snake venom contains several powerful toxins."
How to use toxin
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA poison, especially one made naturally by a plant, animal, or microbe.
Common mistake
Strictly, a toxin comes from a living source; a general poisonous chemical is better called a "toxic substance" or "poison," though people often use "toxin" loosely for both.
Common pairings
release a toxin
flush out toxins
bacterial toxin
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Word forms
- Plural
- toxins
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bacteria release a _____ that causes food poisoning.
Etymology
Formed from Latin toxicum ("poison") plus the chemical suffix -in, used for naming specific substances.
Rhymes for toxin
See all rhymes for toxin →Frequently asked questions
What does “toxin” mean?
The word “toxin” means a poisonous substance, especially one produced naturally by a living organism such as bacteria, a plant, or an animal. In plain terms, a poison, especially one made naturally by a plant, animal, or microbe.
How do you pronounce “toxin”?
“Toxin” is pronounced TOK-sihn (/ˈtɑksɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “toxin” in a sentence?
Here is “toxin” used in a sentence: “The bacteria release a toxin that causes food poisoning.”
What part of speech is “toxin”?
“Toxin” is a noun.
Where does the word “toxin” come from?
The word “toxin” comes from Latin. Formed from Latin toxicum ("poison") plus the chemical suffix -in, used for naming specific substances.
Is “toxin” a common word?
“Toxin” is an uncommon word in modern English.
