toxemia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical
Quick answer
What does “toxemia” mean?
A medical condition where toxins are present in the bloodstream, often linked to pregnancy or infections.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medical condition where toxins are present in the bloodstream, often linked to pregnancy or infections.
Can refer to any systemic poisoning due to toxins in the blood, sometimes used metaphorically for corrupt systems.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'toxaemia' is an alternative spelling, but 'toxemia' is standard in both. Pronunciation varies slightly.
Connotations
Both carry identical medical connotations; no significant difference in meaning.
Frequency
Equally rare in everyday language but common in medical literature.
Grammar
How to Use “toxemia” in a Sentence
suffer from toxemiadevelop toxemiatreat for toxemiadiagnose with toxemiaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “toxemia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Midwives monitor patients to prevent toxemia from arising.
American English
- Doctors work to manage toxemia during pregnancy.
adjective
British English
- She exhibited toxemic symptoms that needed urgent care.
American English
- The toxemic condition was carefully monitored.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; not applicable in standard business contexts.
Academic
Common in medical and biological research papers.
Everyday
Very rare; mostly encountered in health-related discussions.
Technical
Frequently used in clinical settings, medical textbooks, and healthcare.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “toxemia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “toxemia”
- Misspelling as 'toxicemia' or 'toxemia' with a 'c'.
- Confusing with 'toxicity' or general 'poisoning'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Toxemia is often caused by infections or complications during pregnancy, leading to toxins in the bloodstream.
In American English, it is pronounced as /tɑːkˈsiːmiə/.
In medical contexts, especially obstetrics, toxemia is often used synonymously with preeclampsia, a condition characterized by high blood pressure and protein in urine during pregnancy.
No, it is a technical term primarily used in medical and healthcare settings; it is rare in everyday speech.
A medical condition where toxins are present in the bloodstream, often linked to pregnancy or infections.
Toxemia is usually formal, technical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Break it down: 'tox' from toxin, and 'emia' from Greek for blood condition, similar to anemia.
Conceptual Metaphor
Sometimes extended to describe a poisoned or corrupt system, e.g., 'the toxemia of political discourse'.
Practice
Quiz
What is toxemia primarily associated with?