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So You've Been Asked to Submit a Biography
In a library, the word biography refers both to a kind of book and to a section where books of that kind are found. Each biography tells the story of a real person's life. A biography may be about someone who lived long ago, recently, or even someone who is still living, though in the last case it must necessarily be incomplete. The term autobiography refers to a biography written by the person it's about. Autobiographies are of course also necessarily incomplete.
Sometimes biographies are significantly shorter than a book—something anyone who's been asked to submit a biography for, say, a conference or a community newsletter will be glad to know. Often the word in these contexts is shortened to bio, a term that can be both a synonym of biography and a term for what is actually a biographical sketch: a brief description of a person's life. These kinds of biographies—bios—vary, but many times they are only a few sentences long. Looking at bios that have been used in the same context can be a useful guide in determining what to put in your own.
Examples of bio in a Sentence
Craig S. Smith, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Jelly Roll, meanwhile, removed Bunnie from his Instagram bio.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 June 2026
After news of the filing broke earlier this week, Jelly removed Bunnie's name from his bio on Instagram.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026
The bio-pool, which sits alongside some of the villas, is treated solely with aquatic plants, excluding the use of chemicals.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for bio
Cite this Entry
“Bio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bio. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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