Define Active Transport |verified| Jun 2026

Active transport is the disciplined workhorse of the cell. While diffusion allows the cell to go with the flow, active transport allows the cell to maintain control. It enables cells to maintain specific internal environments different from the outside world—a prerequisite for complex physiology. It transforms the cell from a passive bag of chemicals into a dynamic, regulated living machine.

Examples of active transport include:

Because life requires imbalance. A dead cell is in equilibrium—everything is evenly spread out. A living cell is a far-from-equilibrium system. Here is what active transport allows us to do: define active transport

That bouncer is a . Without his energy expenditure, you are not moving against the crowd. Active transport is the disciplined workhorse of the cell