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

Physicians and scientists will need to do more work to prove the precise causal linkage between the EKG finding and the risk of sudden cardiac death, but this is feasible with current tools such cardiac MRI and selective cardiac muscle biopsies. — Paul Hsieh, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

However, newer diagnostic tools have emerged, including specialized imaging and skin biopsy testing. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026

After further testing at a children’s hospital, including scans and a biopsy, the family received the diagnosis. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 29 July 2026

However, if that biopsy shows breast cancer, the breast radiology team will share the diagnosis with you, connect you with an oncologist and a surgeon who will help guide you through the next steps of care, says Bhole. — Nicole Pajer, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

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