circulatory system: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Technical / Academic / Medical
Quick answer
What does “circulatory system” mean?
The biological system in animals that transports blood, nutrients, gases, and hormones around the body, consisting primarily of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The biological system in animals that transports blood, nutrients, gases, and hormones around the body, consisting primarily of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
A network or system that facilitates the movement and distribution of something essential, often used metaphorically in non-biological contexts (e.g., transport infrastructure).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling of related terms may vary (e.g., 'haemoglobin' in UK vs. 'hemoglobin' in US), but the term itself is identical.
Connotations
Identical technical/medical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equal frequency in academic and educational contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “circulatory system” in a Sentence
The circulatory system consists of...The circulatory system transports...A failure in the circulatory system can lead to...We are learning about the circulatory system.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “circulatory system” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The lecture will circulate information about the new module.
- Blood circulates through the vessels.
American English
- The memo will be circulated to all staff.
- The fan circulates air in the room.
adverb
British English
- The fluid moved circulatorily within the chamber. (Very rare/technical)
American English
- The document was sent circulatorily to all departments. (Very rare/technical)
adjective
British English
- He has a circulatory disorder.
- The circulatory organs are vital.
American English
- She was diagnosed with a circulatory issue.
- Circulatory health is important.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorically, in phrases like 'the circulatory system of the global economy' to describe flow of capital/goods.
Academic
Core term in biology, anatomy, physiology, and medical sciences.
Everyday
Used in general health discussions or when explaining basic biology.
Technical
Precise anatomical/physiological term describing the specific organs and their functions in circulation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “circulatory system”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “circulatory system”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “circulatory system”
- Incorrect: 'circulation system' (should be 'circulatory system').
- Incorrect: 'He has a bad circulatory system.' (It sounds odd; better: 'He has circulatory problems.').
- Incorrect plural: 'circulatory systems' is possible but only when comparing different species.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are often used interchangeably. Strictly speaking, 'cardiovascular system' refers specifically to the heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular). 'Circulatory system' can be considered slightly broader, sometimes including the blood and lymphatic system in its discussion.
It is a singular, countable noun phrase. We say 'the circulatory system'. The plural 'circulatory systems' is used when comparing different organisms (e.g., 'The circulatory systems of insects and mammals differ greatly').
In most educational curricula, the term is introduced in primary school (ages 8-11) during basic biology lessons and is studied in more depth in secondary school (ages 11-16).
Yes, it is sometimes used metaphorically to describe any network that distributes something essential. For example: 'The subway is the circulatory system of the city,' or 'The internet acts as the circulatory system for modern information.'
The biological system in animals that transports blood, nutrients, gases, and hormones around the body, consisting primarily of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
Circulatory system is usually technical / academic / medical in register.
Circulatory system: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsɜː.kjəˈleɪ.tər.i ˌsɪs.təm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsɝː.kjə.ləˌtɔːr.i ˌsɪs.təm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A (This term is not used idiomatically)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the heart as a PUMP, the blood vessels as ROADS, and the blood as DELIVERY TRUCKS. Together, they form the delivery 'system' that 'circulates' essentials.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY IS A CITY / NETWORK: The circulatory system is the transport infrastructure (roads, pipes) delivering supplies and removing waste.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of the circulatory system?