What does phagocyte mean?
Phagocyte is a biological term for a cell that engulfs and digests material, especially foreign microorganisms, cellular debris, or other foreign particles. White blood cells such as neutrophils and macrophages are prominent examples, although phagocytes also include specialised cells stationed in tissues. The process performed by a phagocyte is called phagocytosis, from the same Greek roots meaning “eating cell.” In general use, the word is associated with immune defence and with the removal of damaged or unwanted material from the body. It is chiefly found in biological and medical contexts and is more technical than the everyday expression “eating cell.” Phagocyte is useful because it identifies a function shared by several otherwise distinct kinds of cell while allowing their more specific names to remain meaningful. Related forms include the adjective “phagocytic” and the noun “phagocytosis,” both widely used in scientific and clinical writing.
nounA cell, especially a white blood cell, that engulfs and digests foreign particles, microorganisms, or cellular debris.
- A cell capable of engulfing and digesting particles, microorganisms, or cellular debris, especially a white blood cell involved in immune defence.
"Macrophages are phagocytes that remove damaged cells and invading microorganisms from tissues."
"The neutrophil moved toward the bacteria and acted as an effective phagocyte."
"Researchers studied phagocyte function in patients with an inherited immune disorder."
The standard plural is “phagocytes,” formed by adding -s.
"The microscope revealed numerous phagocytes surrounding the foreign material."
A phagocyte is literally an “eating cell”: its name comes from Greek roots meaning “eating” and “cell.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does phagocyte come from?
“Phagocyte” combines the Greek-derived combining form phago-, associated with eating, with -cyte, from Greek kytos, meaning “cell.” The word emerged in the nineteenth century as biomedical vocabulary developed terms for describing cellular structures and processes. Its relatives include phagocytosis, phagocytic, phagosome, and phagocytose, all based on the same notion of cellular ingestion.
Related word forms
How phagocyte is actually used
This is a specialised biological and medical term rather than everyday vocabulary. It is often used broadly, although macrophages, neutrophils, and other phagocytes differ in their origins and principal functions.
Easily confused with phagocyte
A phagocyte is the cell that performs phagocytosis, whereas phagocytosis is the process by which material is engulfed and digested.