biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents

also : measures taken to ensure this security

Examples of biosecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On farms, restricting entry, limiting vehicle and equipment movement and implementing strict worker disinfection protocols will boost biosecurity. —Erik Karlsson, Scientific American, 6 Apr. 2023

First enacted in 2006 and then reauthorized in 2019 shortly before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bill is intended to provide the foundation for national biosecurity policy and emergency public health response. —Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2023

Many nations have tried to stamp out the virus by increasing biosecurity on farms, quarantining infected premises and culling infected flocks. —Emily Anthes, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2023

Yong-Bee Lim is a biosecurity expert who has focused on biorisk issues at the intersection of the life sciences research and emerging and converging technologies. —Saskia Popescu, STAT, 21 July 2023

But Parker, speaking for himself and not for the biosecurity board, stressed the need to rebuild public trust in these contentious times. —Joel Achenbach, Anchorage Daily News, 21 Jan. 2023

The options include assessing risks before moving species or adopting biosecurity measures that are often quite simple. —Manuela Andreoni, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2023

Last year, Ginkgo brought in $334 million from its biosecurity unit, far more than the $144 million of sales from its original synthetic biology business. —Aaron Pressman, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Aug. 2023

However, according to Australia’s biosecurity watchdog, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, prosecutors have now decided to drop the potential case. —Gabrielle Rockson, Peoplemag, 23 Aug. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents (such as pathogenic microorganisms)

You would expect the organisation responsible for ensuring biosecurity in labs working with dangerous animal pathogens like foot and mouth disease to know about any accidents that have occurred in those labs.

—Linda Geddes, New Scientist

also : measures taken to ensure this security

In areas where poultry farms are on adjoining or nearby properties or in areas tied together by common waterways, roads, or flyways, the risk of disease spread from one farm to another is greatly increased no matter what type of biosecurity is practiced by individual farms.

—Carol J. Cardona, in Avian Influenza