genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm 

: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain

broadly : the genetic material of an organism compare proteome

Examples of genome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The numbers aren’t hidden, any more than the DNA of humans is hidden from someone who had their genome sequenced. —Nate Soares, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025

After monitoring them for two years, the researchers directly observed the birth of two different species of males with distinct genomes from a single queen. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 13 Sep. 2025

Researchers say this high-quality reference genome will help uncover how butterflies evolve and adapt. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025

The rare cancer patient with a two-month prognosis who, thanks to whole genome sequencing, has beaten the odds and lived a healthy decade tumor free. —Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

German Genom, from Gen gene + -om (as in Chromosom chromosome)

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing genome

• genome editing

Rhymes for genome

• biome
• megohm
• nichrome
• noisome
• prodrome
• radome
• rhizome
• shalom
• syndrome
• acrosome
• aerodrome
• catacomb

Medical Definition

genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm 

: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain

broadly : the genetic material of an organism

The idea behind sequencing an organism's genome—decoding, letter by letter, the message contained in every last one of its genes—is that it would tell us a lot about how the organism works.

—Lori Oliwenstein, Discover