red blood cell
noun
variants
or less commonly red blood corpuscle
or red cell
or red corpuscle
: any of the hemoglobin-containing cells that carry oxygen to the tissues and in mammals are typically biconcave disks which lack a nucleus and cellular organelles and are formed from nucleated cells of the red bone marrow
Note: The number of red blood cells ranges from four to six million in each cubic millimeter of normal human blood. The red color of blood is due to the presence of hemoglobin within the red blood cells.
called also erythrocyte
compare white blood cellExamples of red blood cell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
High-impact sports can also destroy red blood cells, leading to iron deficiency anemia, while some athletes might also lose blood through their gastrointestinal tract, Hew-Butler says.
—
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Iron Iron is an essential mineral needed to make hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen.
—Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026
The New Jersey Department of Health said the state has less than a one-week supply of red blood cells and less than a day's supply of platelets.
—Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
This technology shows that both storage time and biological differences between donors affect red blood cell quality.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for red blood cell
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Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 11 Feb. 2026
Iron Iron is an essential mineral needed to make hemoglobin, the protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen.
—Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 4 Feb. 2026
The New Jersey Department of Health said the state has less than a one-week supply of red blood cells and less than a day's supply of platelets.
—Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
This technology shows that both storage time and biological differences between donors affect red blood cell quality.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for red blood cell
Cite this Entry
“Red blood cell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20blood%20cell. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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