Definition

Relating to or capable of producing toxins or poisons.

Example

Certain bacteria are toxigenic and can cause serious illnesses.

Conversation

Did you know some bacteria are toxigenic and can produce harmful substances?

Yeah, I read about that in my science class. It's pretty alarming!

It makes me think twice about food safety, especially during summer.

Definitely! We should always be careful with what we eat.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Toxigenic is formed from "toxi-" (from Greek "toxikon", meaning poison) and "genic" (from Greek "genes", meaning producing or generating). The word describes something that produces or generates poison.

Memory Tip

Think of 'toxin' as poison and 'genic' as producing — so toxigenic refers to something that produces poison.

Visually Confused Words