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
Not only that, through comparing 182 skin biopsies, the researchers showed the UV emitted from tanning beds caused unique DNA mutations, more damaging than previously known.
—
Tori Crowther, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
When patients have few to no symptoms, a kidney biopsy seems like an expensive and unreasonable ask.
—Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Research has even shown that some patients with apparently stable kidney function can still have ongoing disease activity visible on kidney biopsy at the microscopic level.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Mar. 2026
Over the years, she's written about everything from pork pies, cervical biopsies, and traveling with teabags to the cultural impact of bread, women cricketers in CDMX, and where to find tacos in Narvarte—as well as why Huddersfield is undeniably the best hometown.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
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Tori Crowther, Allure, 19 Mar. 2026
When patients have few to no symptoms, a kidney biopsy seems like an expensive and unreasonable ask.
—Charles Schmidt, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Research has even shown that some patients with apparently stable kidney function can still have ongoing disease activity visible on kidney biopsy at the microscopic level.
—Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Mar. 2026
Over the years, she's written about everything from pork pies, cervical biopsies, and traveling with teabags to the cultural impact of bread, women cricketers in CDMX, and where to find tacos in Narvarte—as well as why Huddersfield is undeniably the best hometown.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
Cite this Entry
“Biopsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biopsy. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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