Definition

A harmful substance made by living cells that can cause illness when it enters the body.

Example

The scientist studied the effects of the toxin on human cells.

Conversation

Did you hear about that new study on environmental toxins?

Yeah, they said it could be affecting our health more than we thought.

It's scary to think about how many toxins we might be exposed to daily.

For sure! We should definitely pay more attention to what we consume.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Toxin** → It is derived from the Greek word "toxikon" (meaning poison or arrow poison), which comes from "toxon" (meaning bow). The word "toxin" refers to a poisonous substance, originally associated with the poison used on arrows.

Memory Tip

Think of 'toxikon' as a reference to poison used on arrows, helping you remember that a toxin is a harmful substance.

Visually Confused Words