biocompatibility

noun

bio·​com·​pat·​i·​bil·​i·​ty ˌbī-ō-kəm-ˌpa-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

: compatibility with living tissue or a living system by not being toxic, injurious, or physiologically reactive and not causing immunological rejection

biocompatible

ˌbī-ō-kəm-ˈpa-tə-bəl 

adjective

Examples of biocompatibility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

They are coated with gold and parylene C, a polymer that improves biocompatibility. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

Each ribbon in the mesh is roughly 20 μm wide—about the size of cardiac muscle cells—which greatly increases biocompatibility, says Yao. — Edd Gent, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Oct. 2026

The researchers also believe that the closer integration could improve biocompatibility by reducing the mechanical mismatch between electronic components and living tissue. — New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026

Finally, mercury telluride is a heavy-metal compound, and the paper says nothing about long-term skin contact or, for the more ambitious implantable version, biocompatibility or safety over time. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biocompatibility

• communicability
• comprehensibility
• deliverability
• differentiability
• impenetrability
• impermeability
• impracticability
• inaccessibility
• inadmissibility
• inapplicability
• incompatibility
• indestructibility

Medical Definition

biocompatibility

noun

bio·​com·​pat·​i·​bil·​i·​ty -kəm-ˌpat-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

plural biocompatibilities

: the condition of being compatible with living tissue or a living system by not being toxic or injurious and not causing immunological rejection

biocompatible

-kəm-ˈpat-ə-bəl 

adjective