toxicology

noun

tox·​i·​col·​o·​gy ˌtäk-si-ˈkä-lə-jē How to pronounce toxicology (audio)
: a science that deals with poisons and their effect and with the problems involved (such as clinical, industrial, or legal problems)
toxicologist noun

Did you know?

Even though most of us are aware of toxicology primarily from crime shows on TV, toxicologists actually do most of their work in other fields. Many are employed by drug companies, others by chemical companies. Many work for the government, making sure the public is being kept safe from environmental poisons in the water, soil, and air, as well as unhealthy substances in our food and drugs. These issues often have to do with quantity; questions about how much of some substance should be considered dangerous, whether in the air or in a soft drink, may be left to toxicologists. But occasionally a toxicology task may be more exciting: for instance, discovering that what looked like an ordinary heart attack was actually brought on by a hypodermic injection of a paralyzing muscle relaxant.

Examples of toxicology in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Dearborn:Driver in fatal crash sped through traffic light at more than 100 mph, police say The medical examiner has completed the initial examination and is waiting on toxicology and other reports. Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press, 29 July 2024 It was also charged that Letby tried to kill babies by administering synthetic insulin; among others, Professor Alan Wayne Jones, one of Europe's leading experts on toxicology and insulin, has argued that the tests used to reach this conclusion were fundamentally misinterpreted. The Week Uk, theweek, 28 July 2024 That process typically takes a year or more, though the Coroner’s Office was expected to release a cause of death and toxicology reports could come as early as August. Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 8 June 2024 On Monday, hospital staff notified police after a rapid toxicology screening found methadone — a synthetic opioid primarily used for pain management or opioid addiction treatment — in Deneil’s system. Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 17 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for toxicology 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toxicology.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1799, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of toxicology was circa 1799

Dictionary Entries Near toxicology

Cite this Entry

“Toxicology.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxicology. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.

Medical Definition

toxicology

noun
tox·​i·​col·​o·​gy -ˈkäl-ə-jē How to pronounce toxicology (audio)
plural toxicologies
: the scientific study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on the living organism

More from Merriam-Webster on toxicology

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!