toxicant
English
editEtymology
editFrom Medieval Latin toxicāns, toxicant-, present participle of toxicāre (“to poison”).
Pronunciation
edit- IPA(key): /ˈtɒksɪkənt/
Audio (Southern England): (file)
Adjective
edittoxicant (comparative more toxicant, superlative most toxicant)
- Capable of causing damage or dysfunction by toxicity; (broadly) poisonous.
Noun
edittoxicant (plural toxicants)
Usage notes
editA toxicant is sometimes differentiated from a toxin in that a toxicant is any substance that is toxic (including all toxins) whereas toxins are only those that are naturally occurring. The biochemical relation is well exemplified by ethanol, which is both an intoxicant and a toxicant.