bioreactor

noun

bio·​re·​ac·​tor ˌbī-ō-rē-ˈak-tər 

: a device or apparatus in which living organisms and especially bacteria synthesize useful substances (such as interferon) or break down harmful ones (as in sewage)

Examples of bioreactor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Like brewing beer in bioreactors, Chloris cultivates the natural-origin blue pigment through microbial fermentation. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 11 Nov. 2025

In a bioreactor, a nutrient solution containing a bacterial culture is fed with microbes present in the air. —Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025

In a separate field a country block away from the bioreactor, Rulon and TNC installed a second project that also filters out nutrients but uses a different tactic. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 25 Sep. 2025

LanzaTech uses a myriad of feedstocks in its bioreactors, from raw municipal solid waste to agricultural and forestry residues to waste gases from steel, ferroalloy, and chemical refineries. —Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bioreactor

• benefactor
• chiropractor
• malefactor
• multifactor
• subcontractor
• acter
• actor
• factor
• tractor
• attractor
• cofactor
• compactor

Medical Definition

bioreactor

noun

bio·​re·​ac·​tor ˌbī-ō-rē-ˈak-tər 

: a device or apparatus in which living organisms and especially bacteria synthesize useful substances (as interferon) or break down harmful ones (as in sewage)