monocyte

American  

[mon-uh-sahyt] / ˈmɒn əˌsaɪt /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a large, circulating white blood cell, formed in bone marrow and in the spleen, that ingests large foreign particles and cell debris.

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monocyte British  

/ ˌmɒnəˈsɪtɪk, ˈmɒnəʊˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a large phagocytic leucocyte with a spherical nucleus and clear cytoplasm

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monocyte Scientific  

/ mŏn′ə-sīt′ /

1. Any of various large white blood cells that are formed in the bone marrow, circulate in the blood, and destroy pathogenic bacteria by phagocytosis. Monocytes develop into macrophages in various body tissues.

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Other Word Forms

• monocytic adjective
• monocytoid adjective

Etymology

Origin of monocyte

First recorded in 1910–15; mono- + -cyte

Example Sentences

Among patients with colorectal cancer, those with higher levels of IPA in the bloodstream after chemotherapy showed lower monocyte levels.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2026

This meant studying lncRNAs in a type of white blood cell known as a monocyte.

From Science Daily • May 24, 2024

As one of these immune cells matures, it usually goes through an intermediate stage known as a monocyte, but the yolk sac macrophages bypass this step.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 16, 2023

A monocyte is a type of white blood cell that circulates in the blood and lymph and differentiates into macrophages after it moves into infected tissue.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

So for trained immunity to last for months, it must also affect monocyte precursor stem cells in the bone marrow.

From Scientific American • Dec. 1, 2021