Definition
adjHaving a chemical nature that is harmful to health or lethal if consumed or otherwise entering into the body in sufficient quantities.
adjAppearing grossly unwell; characterised by serious, potentially life-threatening compromise in the respiratory, circulatory or other body systems.
Sentence Examples
Lobster tomalley can be toxic and it's best not to eat it.
The material is not toxic in itself.
Too much toxic waste is being dumped at sea.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree
Ancient Greek τόξον (tóxon)
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Ancient Greek -κός (-kós)
Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós)
Ancient Greek τοξῐκός (toxĭkós)
Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón)der.
Latin toxicum
Proto-Indo-European *-kos
Proto-Italic *-kos
Latin -cus
Latin toxicusbor.
French toxiquebor.
English toxic
Borrowed from French toxique, from Late Latin toxicus (“poisoned”), from Latin toxicum (“poison”), from Ancient Greek τοξικόν (toxikón) [φάρμακον (phármakon)] ("poison for use on arrows"), from τοξικός (toxikós, “pertaining to arrows or archery”), from τόξον (tóxon, “bow”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"If some types of electronic waste aren’t incinerated at a high enough temperature, dioxins, which can cause cancer and developmental problems, infiltrate the food supply. Without proper safeguarding, toxic heavy metals seep into the soil and groundwater."
— 2019 December 8, Hannah Beech, Ryn Jirenuwat, “The Price of Recycling Old Laptops: Toxic Fumes in Thailand’s Lungs”, in New York Times:
"Though Twitter is still overrun with toxic anger and fear-based nonsense (now more than ever), it is also, in one crucial way, beginning to play an important role in our response to the pandemic."
— 2020 April 23, Cal Newport, “'Expert Twitter' Only Goes So Far. Bring Back Blogs”, in Wired:
"A veteran UN diplomat, Kaag, 62, said the environment for politicians in the Netherlands had become “toxic” as she and colleagues faced a continual barrage of “hate, intimidation and threats” and often needed tight police security."
— 2024 April 29, Jon Henley, “Surreal claims, lawfare and abuse: toxic politics in Spain reflect the new Europe”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
"“I’m sorry for taking part in the toxic politics … put down the knives, be kind to one another … I never wanted to cause any harm,” [Marjorie Taylor] Greene said."
— 2025 November 16, Joanna Walters, quoting Marjorie Taylor Greene, “Marjorie Taylor Greene says Trump’s remarks hurtful but hopes they can make up”, in The Guardian, →ISSN: