The Difference Between Venomous and Poisonous

Medically reviewed by Michael Menna, DO

If you've ever found yourself asking, Is venomous the same as poisonous? you're not alone. These terms can be easily confused. To answer the question, no, venomous is not the same as poisonous, but they are related.

Poisons and venom are both toxins. However, the key difference is how the toxin gets into your body. Something is considered venomous when it injects the toxin into your body. Something is considered poisonous when you inhale, swallow, or absorb it through your skin.

This article explains the difference between venomous and poisonous and provides examples of animals and plants that are either venomous or poisonous.

Poisonous vs. Venomous

The difference between venomous and poisonous has to do with how the toxin is delivered. You could say it's not the present itself, but the thought that counts when it comes to toxic exposures.

Venomous is usually reserved for animals that bite because they inject a toxin into the body. Poisonous means that an animal (or plant) is toxic if you eat it.

There's no official difference between poisons and venom as far as chemical compounds go. Toxins come in all sorts of different chemicals. You may also know that some toxins, whether poison or venom, can cause a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, which requires emergency treatment.

Passive Poisons

Poisons are passively applied. They get into your system through some act of yours—you inhale, ingest, or absorb it through touch. Most toxic plants are poisonous. Toadstools, for instance, are pretty harmless unless you eat them. Poison ivy is, well, poisonous if you touch it.

It's not just plants but animals can also be poisonous. There are many species of caterpillar, for example, that are poisonous to touch. They don't have to do anything to you, just come in contact with your bare skin.

Those little, colorful poisonous frogs from the tropical rain forests don't inject anything into anyone. They don't bite, either. They just ooze poison until you come along and pick them up.

Related: Poison Ivy vs. Poison Oak: What Are the Differences?

Active Venom

Indeed, there is a verb for getting venom. It's called being envenomated.

Venom is actively applied. Bees, wasps, spiders, and snakes must inject their toxins through biting or stinging. Or, in the case of spitting cobras, squirt it at you.

In the plant world, things get a little tricky. Technically, certain plants that have needles inject the skin with venom and can, therefore, be considered venomous. This applies to the stinging nettles and stinging trees.

The toxin itself might only need to come in contact with bare skin to do its damage, but the difference is in the delivery. Venom requires a verb, an action for those of you who don’t remember English class, to reach its intended victim.

Related: Wasp Sting: What You Should Know

Does the Difference Between Poisonous and Venomous Really Matter?

The truth is, whether we're talking about a venom or a poison, they're all toxic and they all make you sick. In fact, one could argue that since there isn’t really a difference, they’re all toxins.

What we call venom or poison has to do with colloquial usage. Let’s face it, more people come to the internet looking for food poisoning than foodborne illness, even though in the scientific community the latter is preferred.

For the record, however, many of the signs and symptoms of foodborne illness come from toxins created by the organisms growing on the food. Since those toxins are passively transferred to you when you eat the food, it is, strictly speaking, poisonous.

This isn’t an area where the word police should get too fired up. At the end of the encounter aren’t you still just as sick?

Summary

Poisonous and venomous both refer to something that is toxic. The difference is that poisons are ingested or absorbed, whereas venom is injected. A stingray would be considered venomous because when it stings you, the barbs on the tail deliver a venom. Hemlock is poisonous because you can get sick if you touch or eat it.

Talk to a healthcare provider if you think you have come in contact with poison or venom. Treatment will be based on the type of toxin you've encountered. Get emergency medical treatment right away if you are experiencing symptoms of anaphylaxis.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.