biodefense
noun
bio·de·fense
ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈfen(t)s 
often attributive
: the means or methods of preventing, detecting, or managing an attack involving biological weapons
Examples of biodefense in a Sentence
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Andrea Strickler, the deputy director of the nonproliferation and biodefense program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracy, says Iran's vow is reason for the Trump administration to double down on diplomacy.
—
Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 25 June 2025
Borio served in the first Trump White House for three years as director for medical and biodefense preparedness and is now a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
In 2024, Duke University in North Carolina and Washington University in Missouri were NIAID’s largest grantees, receiving more than $190 and $173 million, respectively, to study, among other things, HIV, West Nile vaccines and biodefense.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 15 Jan. 2025
Ideas By Raj Panjabi June 11, 2024 3:58 PM EDT
Dr. Raj Panjabi is former White House Senior Director for global health security and biodefense and on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
—Raj Panjabi, TIME, 11 June 2024
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Shannon K. Kingston, ABC News, 25 June 2025
Borio served in the first Trump White House for three years as director for medical and biodefense preparedness and is now a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
In 2024, Duke University in North Carolina and Washington University in Missouri were NIAID’s largest grantees, receiving more than $190 and $173 million, respectively, to study, among other things, HIV, West Nile vaccines and biodefense.
—Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 15 Jan. 2025
Ideas By Raj Panjabi June 11, 2024 3:58 PM EDT
Dr. Raj Panjabi is former White House Senior Director for global health security and biodefense and on the faculty of Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
—Raj Panjabi, TIME, 11 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for biodefense
Cite this Entry
“Biodefense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biodefense. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
biodefense
noun
bio·de·fense
-di-ˈfen(t)s
: 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
—often used before another nounSt. Louis Business Journal… funding for biodefense research and public-health preparedness has soared …—Discover
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