macrophage

noun

mac·​ro·​phage ˈma-krə-ˌfāj How to pronounce macrophage (audio)
: a phagocytic tissue cell of the immune system that may be fixed or freely motile, is derived from a monocyte, functions in the destruction of foreign antigens (such as bacteria and viruses), and serves as an antigen-presenting cell compare histiocyte
macrophagic
ˌma-krə-ˈfa-jik How to pronounce macrophage (audio)
adjective

Examples of macrophage 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.
First, mast cells branched away from the early macrophages. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026 After anthrax spores enter the animal’s body, immune cells known as macrophages pick up these spores for removal. — Hannah Kinzer, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 2026 The new theory rests on macrophages in homing pigeons’ livers—these immune cells are the body’s garbage disposal. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 28 May 2026 Two categories of immune cells already known when Barry entered the field were lymphocytes and macrophages. — Marc Lipsitch, STAT, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for macrophage

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German Makrophagen (plural), from makro- macro- + -phagen, plural of -phage -phage

Note: Introduced, along with Mikrophagen "microphages," by Élie metchnikoff in "Ueber den Kampf der Zellen gegen Erysipelkokken," Archiv für pathologische Anatomie und Physiologie, Band 107 (1887), p. 222.

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of macrophage was in 1887

Rhymes for macrophage

See All Rhymes for macrophage

Browse Nearby Words

macroorganism
macrophage
macrophagous
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

macrophage

noun
mac·​ro·​phage ˈmak-rə-ˌfāj How to pronounce macrophage (audio)
: a large phagocyte of the immune system

Medical Definition

macrophage

noun
mac·​ro·​phage ˈmak-rə-ˌfāj How to pronounce macrophage (audio) -ˌfäzh How to pronounce macrophage (audio)
: a phagocytic tissue cell of the immune system that may be fixed or freely motile, is derived from a monocyte, functions in the destruction of foreign antigens (as bacteria and viruses), and serves as an antigen-presenting cell see histiocyte, mononuclear phagocyte system
macrophagic
ˌmak-rə-ˈfaj-ik How to pronounce macrophage (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on macrophage

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about macrophage

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!

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