biodefense

noun, often attributive

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bio·de·fense | \ ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈfen(t)s

Definition of biodefense

: the means or methods of preventing, detecting, or managing an attack involving biological weapons

Examples of biodefense in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Beginning March 16, the Ground Force, in close collaboration with the Health Ministry, began holding nationwide biodefense drills. — David Klepper, Chron, "The superspreaders behind top COVID-19 conspiracy theories," 15 Feb. 2021 Beginning March 16, the Ground Force, in close collaboration with the Health Ministry, began holding nationwide biodefense drills. — David Klepper, Star Tribune, "The superspreaders behind top COVID-19 conspiracy theories," 15 Feb. 2021 The order also restores the directorate for global health security and biodefense at the National Security Council, a group Mr. Trump had disbanded. — Aishvarya Kavi, New York Times, "Biden’s 17 Executive Orders and Other Directives in Detail," 20 Jan. 2021 The list included restoring a unit within the White House’s National Security Council for global health security and biodefense, an office that President Barack Obama created and that Trump dismantled two years ago. — Amy Goldstein, Anchorage Daily News, "Biden will arrive in office amid a pandemic. It will be his biggest challenge — but also an opportunity.," 16 Dec. 2020 The task force also includes Dr. Luciana Borio, who hails from the information technology industry and specializes in biodefense, emerging infectious diseases, medical product development, and complex public health emergencies. — Erin Delmore, NBC News, "Meet the team of women who want to eradicate Covid-19 under Biden," 8 Dec. 2020 Biden has pledged to dramatically ramp up testing efforts, restore a biodefense official to the National Security Council, and improve Covid-19 surveillance by revamping insurance claims data. — Lev Facher, STAT, "With Murthy and Kessler, Biden leans on experience to steer Covid-19 task force," 8 Nov. 2020 Here’s what actually happened: The Obama administration created a group tasked with global health security and biodefense within the National Security Council in 2016, following a yearslong Ebola outbreak in West Africa. — USA TODAY, "Harris-Pence debate fact check: What they said about COVID, jobs, taxes," 8 Oct. 2020 Responding to claims at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic that the office had been dissolved, Tim Morrison, former senior director for counterproliferation and biodefense for the NSC, said that the group had been reorganized. — USA TODAY, "Harris-Pence debate fact check: What they said about COVID, jobs, taxes," 8 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biodefense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

24 Feb 2021

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“Biodefense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodefense. Accessed 26 Feb. 2021.

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More Definitions for biodefense

biodefense

noun

bio·de·fense | \ -di-ˈfen(t)s

Medical Definition of biodefense

: the means or methods of preventing, detecting, or managing an attack involving biological weapons The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases money will continue to support research in biodefense and emerging infectious diseases throughout the Midwest. — St. Louis Business Journal, 25 June 2009 —often used before another noun … funding for biodefense research and public-health preparedness has soared … — Discover, July 2006

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