toxic
TOK-sik
/ˈtɒksɪk/
Poisonous; relating to or caused by poison.
In environmental terms, it refers to substances that cause death or serious injury to organisms.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'toxon' (bow). It originally referred to the poison that ancient warriors smeared on their arrowheads.
Word relationships
- poisonous: Poisonous is more common; toxic is the preferred term in science and industry.
- non-toxic: Safe to ingest or be around.
Commonly confused with
- venomous: Venom is injected (snakes); toxins are absorbed or ingested (chemicals).
Word family
- toxin (noun): A poison produced by a living organism.
- toxicity (noun): The quality of being toxic.
Collocations
- toxic waste
- toxic fumes
- toxic masculinity
Idioms & expressions
- toxic debt
Example sentences
- "The river had become a toxic soup of industrial waste and agricultural runoff." Environmental activism.
- "Improper disposal of batteries can release toxic heavy metals into the soil and groundwater." A famous environmental book.
Memory hook
Toxic: Sounds like 'Tox' (Talks). If a chemical 'talks' to your cells in a bad way, it's toxic. Arrow poison.
When not to use
In scientific writing, distinguish between 'toxic' (poisonous if eaten/inhaled) and 'venomous' (poisonous if injected via a bite).
Fun facts
- Botulinum toxin is the most toxic substance known, yet it is used in tiny amounts for Botox injections.
Related words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.