biodefense

noun, often attributive bio·de·fense \ ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-di-ˈfen(t)s \

Updated on: 25 May 2018

Definition of biodefense

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

Recent Examples of biodefense from the Web

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies holds a hearing on the 2019 budget for HHS biodefense activities on Wednesday.

— Washington Post, "The Health 202: Trump is backing off the marijuana fight. But his attorney general has not.," 17 Apr. 2018
Indeed, the Pentagon employs similar equipment at its biodefense research facilities in Maryland and Utah.

— joby warrick, chicagotribune.com, "Poisoning of Russian ex-spy puts spotlight on Moscow's secret military labs," 18 Mar. 2018
Indeed, the Pentagon employs similar equipment at its biodefense research facilities in Maryland and Utah.

— joby warrick, Washington Post, "Poisoning of Russian ex-spy puts spotlight on Moscow’s secret military labs," 18 Mar. 2018
With that much money on the table and a welcoming regulatory environment, biodefense research seems bound to spread like, well, an infectious disease.

— susan scutti, Newsweek, "The Only Thing Scarier Than Bio-Warfare is the Antidote," 13 Mar. 2014
For years, Hammond tracked the U.S. biodefense program.

— susan scutti, Newsweek, "The Only Thing Scarier Than Bio-Warfare is the Antidote," 13 Mar. 2014
The strategy will be the first of a number of reports the Trump administration will roll out over the next few months on defense strategy, counter-terrorism, biodefense, nuclear posture and missile defense, aides said.

— gregory korte, USA TODAY, "Trump's national security strategy will emphasize economic competitiveness," 18 Dec. 2017
At issue in the genetics lawsuit is a technique that allows Twist to create made-to-order DNA for researchers and companies that work in areas such as personalized medicine, biodefense and genome engineering.

— marisa kendall, The Mercury News, "Genetics startup says competitor’s trade secret lawsuit seeks to stifle innovation," 3 Feb. 2017
Fort Detrick is home to a range of research labs, military medical operations and biodefense efforts.

— j.f. meils and sebastian obando | ap, Washington Post, "In north Maryland, economic trick in blending old with new," 2 June 2017

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.

First Known Use of biodefense

1977

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

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Medical Dictionary

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