toxikós

Toxikós (τοξικός) is a Greek adjective meaning poisonous or toxic. In modern Greek it is used to describe substances, organisms, or effects that cause harm due to their toxic properties. The related nouns include τοξίνη (toxíni, toxin) for a poisonous substance and τοξικότητα (toxikótita) for toxicity. In scientific and medical writing, Greek terms formed from this root appear alongside their Latin and English counterparts.

Etymology and cognates explain the relation to English. The Greek root tox- (poison) connects to a broader family of terms such as toxic, toxin, and toxicity in English, which ultimately trace back to ancient Greek and Latin sources describing poisons. In Greek, however, the straightforward equivalent of the English word toxic is τοξικός.

Usage in science and language history. In bilingual or multilingual contexts, toxikós serves as the direct Greek equivalent of “toxic” or “poisonous.” It is used in everyday language as well as in technical expressions like τοξική ουσία (toxic substance) and τοξικότητα (toxicity). The concept also appears in discussions of Greek vocabulary and etymology, illustrating how modern scientific terms are linked to ancient roots.

Related terms. See also toxicology (τοξικολογία in Greek), toxin (τοξίνη), and other toxin-related concepts across languages.