Hemocompatibility refers to the ability of a medical device or material to come in contact with blood without causing adverse effects. There are several synonyms for this term, including blood compatibility, blood biocompatibility, and blood-contacting biomaterials. Other related terms include thrombogenicity, which refers to the ability of a material to cause clotting, and coagulation, which is the process by which blood clots. Hemocompatibility is an important consideration in the development of medical devices, as poor hemocompatibility can lead to complications such as thrombosis, embolism, and inflammation. As such, researchers and manufacturers work to design materials and devices that are as hemocompatible as possible.