allergen
Noun: A substance that can trigger an allergic reaction in a person's body. Allergens are typically harmless to most people but cause the immune system to overreact in individuals who are allergic to them.
The word "allergen" is used to identify the specific cause of an allergic reaction. It is a formal term common in medical, scientific, and everyday health contexts. * It is often modified by the source of the substance (e.g., food allergen, airborne allergen, common allergen). * It is frequently used with verbs like contain, avoid, identify, trigger, and cause.
- Peanuts are a common allergen for many children.
- The doctor tested her to identify the specific allergen causing her skin rash.
- This product label clearly lists all major food allergens.
- Pollen is a seasonal allergen that affects millions of people.
- "Cross-contamination with an allergen": Refers to the unintentional transfer of an allergenic substance to a food or surface that should be free of it.
- The restaurant has strict procedures to prevent cross-contamination with common allergens like gluten and nuts.
- Allergenic (adjective): Having the properties of an allergen; likely to cause an allergic reaction.
- The plant is highly allergenic.
- Allergy (noun): The condition of being affected by an allergen.
- She has a severe allergy to shellfish.
- Irritant
- Sensitizer (in a medical/immunological context)
The term specifically refers to the substance that causes the allergic response, not the response itself (which is an "allergic reaction" or "allergy"). It is a neutral, scientific term for the triggering agent.
- any substance that can cause an allergy