toxemia

noun

tox·​e·​mia täk-ˈsē-mē-ə How to pronounce toxemia (audio)
1
: an abnormal condition associated with the presence of toxic substances in the blood
2
toxemic adjective

Examples of toxemia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web There are several terms – some medical, some colloquial – that are used online for the electrolyte imbalance that comes from overconsumption of fluids, including water toxicity, water intoxication, hyponatremia, water toxemia and hyperhydration. Nate Trela, USA TODAY, 13 July 2023 Preeclampsia, also known as toxemia, is a pregnancy condition that can cause serious complications and is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, most often the liver and kidneys. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 19 Jan. 2023 An otherwise healthy 28-year-old had died from toxemia poisoning caused by pre-eclampsia, a serious complication of pregnancy that went untreated. Erica L. Green, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2023

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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of toxemia was circa 1860

Dictionary Entries Near toxemia

Cite this Entry

“Toxemia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toxemia. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

toxemia

noun
tox·​emia
täk-ˈsē-mē-ə
: an abnormal condition caused by toxic substances in the blood

Medical Definition

toxemia

noun
tox·​e·​mia
variants or chiefly British toxaemia
: an abnormal condition associated with the presence of toxic substances in the blood: as
a
: a generalized intoxication due to absorption and systemic dissemination of bacterial toxins from a focus of infection
b
: intoxication due to dissemination of toxic substances (as some by-products of protein metabolism) that cause functional or organic disturbances (as in the kidneys)
toxemic adjective
or chiefly British toxaemic
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