biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents

also : measures taken to ensure this security

Examples of biosecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The country’s Department of Conservation (DOC) launched a major biosecurity response involving trapping experts, dogs, trail cameras, helicopters and boats that took eight months to finally trap and kill the mustelid in what one official claimed as a big victory. —Dhruv Tikekar, CNN, 10 Apr. 2024

More information on biosecurity measures can be found here. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 27 Mar. 2024

If the animals are not re-exported, Harvey-Sutton said, they could be returned to Australia under stringent biosecurity conditions. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2024

At the Manila meeting, ASEAN countries will discuss topics including timely sharing of information, how to fund biosecurity improvements on small farms and how to watch for emerging viral variants. —Bydennis Normile, science.org, 25 Apr. 2023

This process is helping Ginkgo develop a global biosecurity radar that will give more advanced warnings to public health leaders and businesses. —Thomas Bostick, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024

Australian officials said Thursday that the ship had been allowed to dock at the Fremantle Port but that no livestock could be unloaded due to Australia’s biosecurity regulations, which are among the strictest in the world. —Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 1 Feb. 2024

The Google deal comes as Ginkgo is trying to expand its biosecurity business, which got started during the COVID pandemic, into monitoring wastewater for pathogens. —Aaron Pressman, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2023

If allowed to disembark, the animals would be governed by Australia’s strict biosecurity system, which is designed to assure importing countries that the country’s livestock is disease-free. —Hilary Whiteman, CNN, 31 Jan. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents (such as pathogenic microorganisms)

You would expect the organisation responsible for ensuring biosecurity in labs working with dangerous animal pathogens like foot and mouth disease to know about any accidents that have occurred in those labs.

—Linda Geddes, New Scientist

also : measures taken to ensure this security

In areas where poultry farms are on adjoining or nearby properties or in areas tied together by common waterways, roads, or flyways, the risk of disease spread from one farm to another is greatly increased no matter what type of biosecurity is practiced by individual farms.

—Carol J. Cardona, in Avian Influenza