blood poisoning

noun

: septicemia

Examples of blood poisoning 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.
Such magnets are known to cause perforations, twisting, and/or blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning and death. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 9 Dec. 2025 Symptoms can range from stomach illness to severe wound infections, and in some cases, life-threatening blood poisoning. — Doc Louallen, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2025 The unexpected action sequence puts into perspective how effective blood poisoning can be even with a vampire as powerful as Lestat. — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 8 June 2026 This potential hazard can cause perforations, twisting or blockage of the intestines, blood poisoning and death, according to the organization. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 6 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for blood poisoning

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blood poisoning was in 1844

Browse Nearby Words

blood platelet
blood poisoning
blood poor
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Blood poisoning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood%20poisoning. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

blood poisoning

noun
: a serious condition marked by the passage of disease-causing microorganisms into the blood

Medical Definition

blood poisoning

noun
: septicemia

More from Merriam-Webster on blood poisoning

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about blood poisoning

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gambol

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All