xenotropic

adjective

xe·no·tro·pic ˌze-nō-ˈträ-pik -trō-

ˌzē-

: replicating or reproducing only in cells other than those of the host species

xenotropic viruses

Word History

Etymology

xeno- + -tropic

Note: The term was introduced by the American physician and virologist Jay A. Levy (b1938) in "Xenotropic Viruses: Murine Leukemia Viruses Associated with NIH Swiss, NZB, and Other Mouse Strains," Science, vol. 182, issue 4117 (December 14, 1973), pp. 1151-53.

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of xenotropic was in 1973

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

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

Copy Citation

Medical Definition

xenotropic

adjective

xe·no·tro·pic -ˈträp-ik -ˈtrō-pik

: replicating or reproducing only in cells other than those of the host species

xenotropic viruses

xenotropic

adjective

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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 (-)

Popular in Wordplay

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

Popular

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes

xenotropic

adjective

Word History

Rhymes for xenotropic

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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 (-)

Popular in Wordplay

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

Popular

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes