English Reference

Word

necrosis

Phoneticsnecro·sis

US/nəˈkɹoʊsəs/

UK/nɛkɹˈəʊsɪs/

Definition

n. the death of cells or tissues in the body that is not caused by a disease or injury. It often happens when the blood supply to an area is cut off.

n. the death of cells or tissues in an organism, typically as a result of disease, injury, or lack of blood supply. It is a form of cell death that is not a programmed process.

Examples

“The doctor explained that the necrosis was caused by a blocked artery.”

“The rapid onset of necrosis in the muscle tissue indicated a severe lack of oxygen, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent systemic complications.”

Examples

simple

“The doctor explained that the necrosis was caused by a blocked artery.”

complex

“The rapid onset of necrosis in the muscle tissue indicated a severe lack of oxygen, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent systemic complications.”

Real-World Examples

“He recalls seeing men with "skin necrosis, where an area of the skin dies off it turns very black and then it sort of sloughs off.”
BBC News · 15 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Ancient Greek νέκρωσις (nékrōsis), equivalent to necro- + -osis.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference