chelator
noun
che·la·tor ˈkē-ˌlā-tər 
kē-ˈlā-tər
also ˈchē-ˌlā-tər,
chē-ˈlā-
: one that chelates
especially : a binding agent that suppresses chemical activity by forming chelates
Examples of chelator in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s a chelator that binds to free metal ions found in tap water. —
Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 15 Dec. 2025 Current chelators designed to treat lead poisoning can also remove essential metals such as calcium and zinc. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 Over the next several days, Buttar treated Desiree with IV chelation therapy, vitamin cocktails and a lotion chelator rubbed on her arms. —Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2023 Share [Findings] Hemotoxic snakebite may be treatable with a heavy-metal chelator. —Will Stephenson, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2023 Doctors put her on a chelator, which filters out lead from the blood. —Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2023 Other work had flagged another type of chelator that wasn’t toxic but didn’t do as good of a job removing uranium, especially from bones and the kidney. —Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2019
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.
Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 15 Dec. 2025 Current chelators designed to treat lead poisoning can also remove essential metals such as calcium and zinc. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2024 Over the next several days, Buttar treated Desiree with IV chelation therapy, vitamin cocktails and a lotion chelator rubbed on her arms. —Brandy Zadrozny, NBC News, 4 Aug. 2023 Share [Findings] Hemotoxic snakebite may be treatable with a heavy-metal chelator. —Will Stephenson, Harper's Magazine, 21 June 2023 Doctors put her on a chelator, which filters out lead from the blood. —Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2023 Other work had flagged another type of chelator that wasn’t toxic but didn’t do as good of a job removing uranium, especially from bones and the kidney. —Lacy Schley, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2019
Cite this Entry
“Chelator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/chelator. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
chelator
noun
che·la·tor ˈkē-ˌlāt-ər
: any of various compounds that combine with metals to form chelates and that include some used medically in the treatment of metal poisoning (as by lead)
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