What does hemolyze mean?
Hemolyze is a technical verb meaning to cause red blood cells to rupture and release their contents, especially hemoglobin; used intransitively, it also describes cells undergoing this breakdown. In medicine and biology, the process is called hemolysis, and the corresponding adjective is hemolytic. The word is most often encountered in descriptions of immune-mediated red cell destruction, hemolytic reactions, and laboratory techniques that rupture cells deliberately. Hemolyzed cells lose their normal shape and release hemoglobin into the surrounding fluid, which can visibly redden a sample. The term is precise where “break down” might sound too general, since it identifies a particular cellular event. Although it appears mostly in scientific and clinical writing, the word is also memorable for its Greek components: haima, “blood,” and lysis, “a loosening or dissolution.” The compact name captures both the material involved and the process by which a cell releases its contents.
verbTo cause the rupture and breakdown of red blood cells, releasing hemoglobin; used intransitively, it also describes red blood cells undergoing this process.
- Cause red blood cells to rupture and release hemoglobin, or undergo this process.
"Certain antibodies can hemolyze red blood cells during an immune-mediated reaction."
"The hypotonic solution caused the red blood cells to hemolyze rapidly."
"Researchers used a controlled assay to hemolyze red blood cells and measure the released hemoglobin."
Hemolyze is built from Greek roots meaning “blood” and “dissolution”—a compact name for a red blood cell bursting and spilling its contents.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of hemolyze
Hemolyze is a later verb formed from the scientific process noun hemolysis, which was created from Greek haima, meaning “blood,” and lysis, meaning “a loosening” or “dissolution.” The verb’s development followed the established use of hemolysis for the breakdown of red blood cells. Related English words preserve the same Greek elements, including hematology, hemorrhage, and haemophilia.
Related word forms
How hemolyze is actually used
This is primarily a medical, hematological, and laboratory-biology term. It can be transitive or intransitive, although passive constructions such as “red blood cells were hemolyzed” are common.
Easily confused with hemolyze
Hemolyze is the verb describing the action or process, whereas hemolysis is the noun naming the breakdown of red blood cells.