neutrophil

1 of 2

adjective

neu·​tro·​phil ˈnü-trə-ˌfil 

ˈnyü-

variants or neutrophilic

ˌnü-trə-ˈfi-lik 

ˌnyü-

: staining to the same degree with acid or basic dyes

neutrophil granulocytes

neutrophil

2 of 2

noun

: a granulocyte that is the chief phagocytic white blood cell of the blood

Examples of neutrophil in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Thus, the use of clozapine is associated with close medical monitoring for some patients, in the form of blood tests to measure the absolute neutrophil count. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Noun

Side effects Clozapine’s most notable adverse effect is agranulocytosis, in which an extreme reduction of white blood cells, particularly neutrophils, undermines the body’s ability to defend against infection. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026

Researchers found that alcohol can cause called neutrophils, a type of immune cell, to end up damaging the lining of the upper small intestine. — Cara Lynn Shultz, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

International Scientific Vocabulary neutro- (from Latin neutr-, neuter neither) + -phil

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1890, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1897, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neutrophil

• basophil
• carboxyl
• daffodil
• overkill
• overspill
• anthill
• backfill
• bluegill
• crossbill
• distil
• distill
• downhill

Kids Definition

neutrophil

noun

neu·​tro·​phil

ˈn(y)ü-trə-ˌfil

: a cell with fine grains in it that is the white blood cell doing most of the work in collecting and taking in stray and foreign matter

Medical Definition

neutrophil

1 of 2 adjective

neu·​tro·​phil ˈn(y)ü-trə-ˌfil 

variants or neutrophilic

ˌn(y)ü-trə-ˈfil-ik 

also neutrophile

ˈn(y)ü-trə-ˌfīl 

: staining to the same degree with acid or basic dyes

neutrophil granulocytes

neutrophil

2 of 2 noun

variants also neutrophile

: a granulocyte that is the chief phagocytic white blood cell