bioreactor

noun

bio·​re·​ac·​tor ˌbī-ō-rē-ˈak-tər How to pronounce bioreactor (audio)
: a device or apparatus in which living organisms and especially bacteria synthesize useful substances (such as interferon) or break down harmful ones (as in sewage)

Examples of bioreactor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The bioreactor—the core technology powering pharmaceuticals, biologics, food and advanced materials—still operates, in most facilities, as a black box. Hamid Noori, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026 To make those mini-hearts at scale, Sharma said, researchers use bioreactors that effectively mimic microgravity. Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 3 May 2026 These modular systems hint at future bioreactors that couple CO₂-fixation organisms to fast converters. Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 16 Feb. 2026 The process typically involves selecting a microbe and growing it in a steel bioreactor. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 19 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bioreactor

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bioreactor was in 1974

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Cite this Entry

“Bioreactor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioreactor. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

Medical Definition

bioreactor

noun
bio·​re·​ac·​tor ˌbī-ō-rē-ˈak-tər How to pronounce bioreactor (audio)
: a device or apparatus in which living organisms and especially bacteria synthesize useful substances (as interferon) or break down harmful ones (as in sewage)
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