Final answer:
The statement is true; phagocytosis is the process by which cells, such as white blood cells, engulf and destroy pathogens like bacteria through the formation of a phagolysosome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the process by which a white blood cell or an amoeba engulfs bacteria is called phagocytosis is indeed true. Phagocytosis is a key aspect of the immune response, where various cells, such as neutrophils and macrophages, actively seek and engulf intruding pathogens like bacteria. These cells extend their membrane to form pseudopodia, which surround and take in the bacteria, encapsulating it within a vesicle known as a phagosome. The phagosome then fuses with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome, where digestive enzymes work to destroy the pathogen. The waste material is finally excreted from the cell through exocytosis.