biopsy

noun

bi·​op·​sy ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 

plural biopsies

: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body

biopsy transitive verb

Did you know?

Matter examined in a biopsy is always taken from a living organism. Most biopsies are done by using a needle to extract tissue or fluid, but some may instead require cutting, and others may amount to nothing more than swabbing the inside of the patient's cheek. Biopsies are best known as a means of detecting cancer, but a doctor may also take a biopsy of heart muscle to investigate suspected heart disease, for example, or perform a biopsy on a pregnant woman to test for disorders in the fetus.

Examples of biopsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These skin reactions sometimes require biopsies, topical or systemic steroids or at times, surgical removal. —Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025

What followed was a whirlwind: a week packed with appointments, scans and biopsies. —Jordan Greene, People.com, 13 June 2025

When a man is diagnosed with a small, slow-growing, contained prostate cancer, it may be monitored for years by a urologist with more frequent PSA readings, biopsies and MRIs. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2025

During a biopsy, the healthcare provider uses a needle to take a tissue sample from a mass to test it for cancer cells. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 25 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary bi- entry 2 + -opsy (as in autopsy)

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

biopsy

noun

bi·​op·​sy ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 

plural biopsies

: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body

Medical Definition

biopsy

1 of 2 noun

bi·​op·​sy ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 

plural biopsies

: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body

biopsy

2 of 2 transitive verb

biopsied; biopsying

: to perform a biopsy on

the intestinal polyps were removed and biopsied