A Toxin Is Made by a Living Thing
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by an organism. Not every poison is a toxin, and the distinction matters.
A toxin is a poisonous substance produced by a living organism. The definition excludes a great deal: arsenic and mercury are poisons but not toxins, because nothing living makes them. Botulinum toxin, snake venom and tetanus toxin all qualify. The word's origin is strange and specific: Greek *toxikon* meant poison for arrows, from *toxon*, a bow — so the poison was named after the weapon rather than the effect. English also distinguishes *venom*, injected, from *poison*, swallowed or absorbed.
- A biological poison. *Botulinum toxin.*
- Poison — any harmful substance. *A poison.*
- Venom — injected by a bite. *Snake venom.*
- Toxic — the adjective. *Toxic.*
- Greek — *toxon*, a bow. *The source.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | toxin | A toxin. |
| Plural | toxins | Toxins. |
| Adjective | toxic | Toxic. |
| Noun | toxicity | Toxicity. |
| Greek | toxon | A bow. |
- The bacterium produces a toxin.Biology.
- Arsenic is a poison, not a toxin.Distinction.
- Toxon meant a bow.Etymology.
Poison, venom and toxin
- Toxin — made by a living organism
- Poison — harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed
- Venom — delivered by a bite or sting
- A snake is venomous, a poison dart frog is poisonous
- Toxicant — a synthetic toxic substance
Greek *toxikon pharmakon*, poison for arrows, from *toxon*, a bow, through Latin *toxicum*.
Is every poison a toxin?
No. A toxin must be produced by a living organism. Arsenic and mercury are poisons but not toxins.
Why does toxin come from a word for bow?
Greek toxikon meant poison used on arrows, named from toxon, a bow. The delivery method gave the substance its name.