1. the quality or state of being toxic or poisonous to cells; the ability of a substance or agent to damage or kill cells
Usage: technical; biology/medicine

Examples

• The researchers measured the cytotoxicity of the new drug by observing how many cancer cells it killed in the laboratory.
• Chemotherapy drugs work by inducing cytotoxicity in rapidly dividing tumor cells.
• The cytotoxicity of the compound increased significantly at higher concentrations.
• Scientists use cell culture assays to evaluate the cytotoxicity of potential pharmaceutical candidates.
• The immune system's natural killer cells exhibit cytotoxicity against infected or abnormal cells.
• Understanding the cytotoxicity profile of a medication is essential for determining safe dosage levels.