Meaning & use
hemoglobin
Last updated
Meaning
noununcountablebiologymedical
A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.
Grammar: Uncountable; used with singular verbs. Often followed by 'in' or 'levels'.
Patterns
- hemoglobin in the blood
- levels of hemoglobin
- hemoglobin carries oxygen
- low hemoglobin
Hemoglobin is responsible for the red color of blood.
The doctor tested her hemoglobin levels to check for anemia.
A lack of iron can lower your hemoglobin.
Common combinations
- hemoglobin levels
- His hemoglobin levels were dangerously low.
- hemoglobin carries oxygen
- Hemoglobin carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
- low hemoglobin
- Low hemoglobin can cause fatigue and shortness of breath.
- hemoglobin in the blood
- The test measures the amount of hemoglobin in the blood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- haemoglobin
- This is the British spelling; use it in British English texts.
Word family
- hemoglobinopathy noun
- A medical condition caused by abnormal hemoglobin.
Commonly confused: hemoglobin or hemophilia?
hemoglobin vs hemophilia
Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder where blood does not clot properly, while hemoglobin is the oxygen-carrying protein.
Practice
What is the main function of hemoglobin?
Choose one answer.
Hemoglobin's primary role is to transport oxygen. Fighting infections is done by white blood cells, clotting by platelets, and digestion by the digestive system.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “hemoglobin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.