autologous

adjective

au·​tol·​o·​gous ȯ-ˈtä-lə-gəs How to pronounce autologous (audio)
1
: derived from the same individual
incubated lymphoid cells with autologous tumor cells
2
: involving one individual as both donor and recipient
an autologous blood transfusion
an autologous bone marrow transplant

Examples of autologous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For those whose days of hair-banking possibility are long behind them, autologous fat grafting holds some promise. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 Mar. 2026 The age of the source does determine a secretome’s potency, but will the boosted bioavailability of an autologous stem cell make up for that? — Jessica Ourisman, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025 The second is autologous reconstruction, which uses tissue from your own body (often harvested from the abdomen or back) to rebuild the breast. — Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026 Advertisement Brocks’ patients with severe dry eyes sometimes benefit from autologous serum eye drops, which are made from a patient’s own blood. — Angela Haupt, Time, 21 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for autologous

Word History

Etymology

auto- + -logous (in heterologous, homologous)

First Known Use

circa 1911, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of autologous was circa 1911

Rhymes for autologous

See All Rhymes for autologous

Browse Nearby Words

autoloading
autologous
autoluminescence
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Cite this Entry

“Autologous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/autologous. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

autologous

adjective
au·​tol·​o·​gous ȯ-ˈtäl-ə-gəs How to pronounce autologous (audio)
1
: derived from the same individual
autologous grafts
incubated lymphoid cells with autologous tumor cells
compare heterologous sense 1, homologous sense 2a
2
: involving one individual as both donor and recipient (as of blood)
autologous transfusion
autologous bone marrow transplants
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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