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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
Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
Users have to verify their phone number and email address to make an account on the app, which also asks for a date of birth, picture and short bio of the user when setting up an account.
—Mary Ramsey
march 25, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2026
As her bio states, she is inspired by artists like Joni Mitchell, Brandi Carlile, and Madison Cunningham — to give you a starting point.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 2026
Click link in bio to learn more about the Country Music Hall of Fame induction process.
—ABC News, 21 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 30 Mar. 2026.
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