toxin
gb/tˈɑksən/ us/tˈɑksən/
B2
English
~ 7700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
poisonous or harmful substance
A poisonous substance that can hurt your body or other living things.
Usage pattern:
a toxin in [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "toxin" can refer to anything bad for you, including abstract things like stress or social media. In standard usage, a toxin is a physical substance, usually a chemical or compound that can damage the body. Learners also confuse "toxin" (noun) with "toxic" (adjective): "This drink has toxins" (correct) vs. "This drink is very toxic" (also correct but uses the adjective).
Synonyms
poison (More general and common; can mean any harmful substance or even a harmful influence, while "toxin" usually refers to a substance affecting the body.)
|
toxic substance (More formal/technical; clearly emphasizes the harmful chemical nature of the substance.)
Antonyms
nutrient (A substance taken into the body that is beneficial and supports health, rather than harming it like a toxin.)
|
antidote (A substance that counteracts a poison or toxin, making it an opposite in effect.)
Collocations
remove toxins
|release toxins
|toxins in the body
|environmental toxins
|exposure to toxins
|toxin levels
Themes
health
|science
|environment
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Some cleaning products contain toxins that can irritate your lungs.
- The report warned about high levels of toxins in the local river.
- Doctors said his liver was damaged from years of exposure to industrial toxins.
- Many people are worried about the toxins released into the air by nearby factories.
- The spa claims its treatment helps the body get rid of stored toxins.
Learner examples
- The water was not safe because it had toxins in it.
- Scientists found toxins in the fish from the lake.
- Smoking puts many toxins into your body.
- These plants can make toxins that are dangerous to pets.
- The air test showed a low level of toxins.
Noun
technical
C1
entity
2
naturally produced poisonous substance
A poison made by a living thing, like a bacteria, plant, or animal, that can cause illness or damage in the body.
Usage pattern:
a toxin produced by [an organism]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that, in strict scientific usage, a "toxin" is natural (produced by organisms), while synthetic harmful chemicals are often called "toxicants" or simply "poisons". In everyday language this difference is often ignored, but in technical writing it is important.
Synonyms
biotoxin (A more explicit technical term used in scientific contexts to stress that the toxin is produced by a living organism.)
|
venom (A type of animal-produced toxin that is actively injected (for example by snakes or spiders), whereas "toxin" is a broader scientific term.)
Antonyms
antitoxin (A substance, often an antibody, that neutralizes a specific toxin, making it a direct functional opposite in immunology.)
Collocations
bacterial toxins
|botulinum toxin
|toxin-producing bacteria
|protein toxin
|snake toxin
|neurotoxin
Themes
science
|medicine
|biology
|health
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The disease is caused by a toxin released by the bacteria in the intestines.
- Researchers are studying how this snake toxin affects nerve cells.
- The vaccine works by training the immune system to recognize the toxin.
- Clostridium botulinum produces a powerful toxin that can be deadly in very small amounts.
- Some plants produce toxins as a defense against insects and animals.
Learner examples
- The doctor explained that the bacteria make a toxin inside the body.
- This snake’s toxin can stop your muscles from working.
- Scientists found a new toxin in the soil bacteria.
- Some food poisoning is caused by toxins made by germs.
- The lab tested how the toxin damaged the cells.
Grammar
Dictionary form
toxin
IPA
GB/tˈɑksən/
US/tˈɑksən/
Syllables & stress
tox - in (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (tox)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: toxin
- Plural: toxin, toxins
Word family
Expressions
environmental toxins
1/ɪnvˌaɪɹənmˈɛntəl tˈɑksənz/
fixed phrase
toxins in the environment
Toxins that are found in the air, water, soil, or other parts of the environment around us.
Examples
- Children are especially sensitive to environmental toxins like lead and mercury.
- The study examined how environmental toxins affect brain development.
- Reducing environmental toxins is a major goal of new regulations.
exposed to toxins
1/ɪkspˈoʊzd tə tˈɑksənz/
fixed phrase
come into contact with toxins
To be in a situation where toxins can enter or affect your body, for example through air, water, or touch.
Examples
- Workers were exposed to toxins after the chemical spill at the factory.
- Children living near the waste site may have been exposed to toxins in the soil.
- If you are exposed to toxins at work, you should wear protective equipment.
flush out toxins
1/flˈʌʃ ˈaʊt tˈɑksənz/
fixed phrase
wash toxins out of system
To remove toxins from a body or system by making fluids move through it, often by drinking more water or other liquids.
Examples
- Health blogs often say that drinking lots of water can help flush out toxins.
- The nurse told him to drink plenty of fluids to flush out the toxins from his system.
- Some people believe herbal tea helps flush out toxins from the liver.
rid the body of toxins
1/ɹˈɪd ðə bˈɑdi əv tˈɑksənz/
fixed phrase
remove toxins from the body
To remove harmful toxins from a person’s body, usually through diet, treatment, or medical care.
Examples
- The clinic offers a program designed to rid the body of toxins through diet and exercise.
- Drinking more water can help your kidneys rid the body of toxins.
- She started a three-day juice plan to rid her body of toxins after the holidays.
toxin buildup
1/tˈɑksən bˈɪldˌʌp/
fixed phrase
gradual accumulation of toxins
A slow increase of toxins in the body or in a place over time.
Examples
- Poor liver function can lead to toxin buildup in the blood.
- The spa claims its treatments reduce toxin buildup in the body.
- Long-term exposure to polluted air can cause toxin buildup in the lungs.
toxin levels
1/tˈɑksən lˈɛvəlz/
fixed phrase
technical
measured amount of toxins
The amount of toxin in the body or in something that is tested, usually shown by a number or measurement.
Examples
- Blood tests showed elevated toxin levels after the chemical accident.
- The researchers tracked toxin levels in the river over a five-year period.
- Doctors monitored her toxin levels daily while she was in intensive care.