biogenic

adjective

bio·​gen·​ic ˌbī-ō-ˈje-nik How to pronounce biogenic (audio)
variants or less commonly biogenous
: produced by living organisms
biogenic methane formation

Examples of biogenic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web According to the property, the thermal plankton are a biogenic treasure and harbor a wealth of natural minerals like sulfur, potassium, and magnesium. Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 27 Dec. 2023 Then there are biogenic amines, another fermentation byproduct that contains things like histamine and tyramine, both of which have been linked to headaches. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 Nov. 2023 But if biogenic aerosols were more abundant than expected before industrialization, then the contributions from industry matter less. WIRED, 29 Sep. 2023 For example, heat stress, extreme weather, and droughts cause plants to release more biogenic volatiles—which seed more clouds. WIRED, 29 Sep. 2023 First is biogenic methane, produced by bacteria that digest organic materials in manure, landfills and wastewater. Emily Grubert, The Conversation, 6 July 2020 The biogenic polyamine complex is included in Fast Lean Pro to help with fat breakdown and support cell renewal. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 25 May 2023 Sheehan said that, for now, Air Company uses biogenic CO2 sourced from traditional ethanol fermentation, captured from another facility in upstate New York before it is released into the atmosphere, which allows the company to mitigate those emissions altogether. Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2023 By growing calcium carbonate through photosynthesis, the biogenic limestone can replace quarried limestone. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 11 Aug. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'biogenic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1897, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biogenic was in 1897

Dictionary Entries Near biogenic

Cite this Entry

“Biogenic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biogenic. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

biogenic

adjective
bio·​gen·​ic -ˈjen-ik How to pronounce biogenic (audio)
: produced by living organisms
biogenic amine metabolism in depressed patientsD. L. Murphy
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