: a minute flattened body (as of ice or a mineral)
especially
: a minute colorless disklike body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium
called also blood platelet, thrombocyte
Examples of platelet in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Shay was diagnosed with preeclampsia and later HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count) and later postpartum obsessive compulsive disorder.
—
David Oliver, USA Today, 22 July 2025
The research started back in 2017 where the team found HSCs in the lungs of mice which were capable of making red blood cells, as well as white blood cells which help with fighting infections and healing and also cells which produce platelets.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Grant’s extensive treatment and multiple infections have called for blood and platelet transfusions, ongoing infusions and continued hospitalizations.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is the exclusive provider of blood, platelets and plasma for more than 40 area hospitals, including all Northwest Arkansas hospitals.
—Miceala Morano, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for platelet
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
David Oliver, USA Today, 22 July 2025
The research started back in 2017 where the team found HSCs in the lungs of mice which were capable of making red blood cells, as well as white blood cells which help with fighting infections and healing and also cells which produce platelets.
—Victoria Forster, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Grant’s extensive treatment and multiple infections have called for blood and platelet transfusions, ongoing infusions and continued hospitalizations.
—Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Mar. 2025
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks is the exclusive provider of blood, platelets and plasma for more than 40 area hospitals, including all Northwest Arkansas hospitals.
—Miceala Morano, Arkansas Online, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for platelet
Cite this Entry
“Platelet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/platelet. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
platelet
noun
plate·let
ˈplāt-lət 
: one of the tiny colorless disk-shaped bodies of the blood of mammals that assist in blood clotting
Medical Definition
platelet
noun
plate·let
ˈplāt-lət
: a minute colorless anucleate disklike body of mammalian blood that is derived from fragments of megakaryocyte cytoplasm, that is released from the bone marrow into the blood, and that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and to damaged epithelium
called also blood platelet, thrombocyte
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share