noncytotoxic
|non-cy-to-tox-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌnɑn.saɪ.təˈtɑksɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌnɒn.saɪ.təˈtɒksɪk/
not harmful to cells
Etymology
'noncytotoxic' is a modern English compound formed from the negative prefix 'non-' and the adjective 'cytotoxic'; 'cytotoxic' itself is a technical formation combining 'cyto-' (from Greek 'kytos', meaning 'cell') and 'toxic' (from Greek 'toxikon', meaning 'poison').
'cytotoxic' was coined in scientific/medical usage in modern times (20th century) by combining New Latin/Greek-derived 'cyto-' and English/modern Latin 'toxic'; English then formed the compound 'noncytotoxic' by adding the standard negative prefix 'non-'.
Originally, the elements meant 'cell' (kytos) and 'poison' (toxikon); 'cytotoxic' came to mean 'poisonous to cells', and 'noncytotoxic' now means 'not poisonous to cells' (a straightforward negative formation rather than a large semantic shift).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not cytotoxic; not toxic to living cells — does not kill or damage cells (often used of chemicals, materials, or treatments in cell culture or medical contexts).
The new scaffold material was noncytotoxic in vitro and promoted cell growth.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/01 20:52