Autotoxicity

/ˌɔːtətɒksɪsɪti/ noun

Definition

The quality or state of being toxic to oneself, especially of biological substances that harm the organism producing them.

Etymology

From autotoxic + -ity. The noun form emphasizing the property of self-toxicity in biological systems.

Kelly Says

Cancer cells sometimes die from their own autotoxicity—as they multiply rapidly and create waste products faster than they can eliminate them, the toxic buildup can actually kill the tumor from the inside out.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.