Word
toxicology
Phoneticstox·i·col·o·gy
US/ˌtɑksɪˈkɑɫədʒi/
UK/tˌɒksɪkˈɒlədʒi/
Definition
n. the scientific study of poisons and how they affect living things. Experts in this field look at how much of a substance is dangerous and how to treat people who are poisoned.
n. the branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of poisons. It involves the study of adverse effects of chemical substances on living organisms and the practice of diagnosing and treating exposures to toxins.
Examples
“The lab results from toxicology show no signs of poison.”
“Forensic experts used toxicology to determine if the victim had any harmful chemicals in their system at the time of death.”
“Advances in environmental toxicology have allowed researchers to track how trace amounts of industrial runoff accumulate within the food chain, eventually impacting human health through chronic exposure.”
Examples
simple
“The lab results from toxicology show no signs of poison.”
contextual
“Forensic experts used toxicology to determine if the victim had any harmful chemicals in their system at the time of death.”
complex
“Advances in environmental toxicology have allowed researchers to track how trace amounts of industrial runoff accumulate within the food chain, eventually impacting human health through chronic exposure.”
Usage
Often used as a modifier in compound nouns like 'toxicology report' or 'toxicology screen'.
Real-World Examples
“More information on the deaths would be available in approximately six to eight weeks, after autopsies and toxicology reports are completed, the Pershing county sheriff’s office said in a statement.” “A study published online in August 2026 in Food and Chemical Toxicology evaluated commercial grade sucralose using several genetic toxicity tests in cells and animals.” Etymology
From French toxicologie, equivalent to toxico- + -logy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/toxicology