poisoning
/ˈpɔɪzənɪŋ/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: poisonings
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The administration of a poison.
Noun
Examples
The number of young children in the US who have died from opioid overdoses has increased significantly, according to a new study on accidental poisonings of children 5 and younger.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The state of being poisoned.
Noun
Examples
Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese[…]began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated. The poisoning was irreversible, and soon ended in psychosis and death.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “poisoning” mean?
The administration of a poison.
Is “poisoning” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.