Did you know?
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
ABC News, 21 Mar. 2026
For his service, Mueller received a Bronze Star, two Navy Commendation Medals, the Purple Heart (given to those wounded or killed in action) and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, his bio says.
—Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
After offering his audience of animal rights activists a brief bio, Talarico shifted to a topic relevant to the organization, whose mission includes fighting animal cruelty and finding homes for stray pets.
—John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026
As a kid, the Huntington, Indiana, native would pretend to do TV weather in the basement of his childhood home, studying positions of weather systems, according to his staff bio.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 18 Mar. 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 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy Citation
