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

Additionally, all gear—especially boots and outerwear—must undergo biosecurity checks to prevent the introduction of non-native species, seeds, or bacteria. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2025

By 1960, Gros Michel exports had all but vanished from supermarket shelves; surviving plants only persisted in isolated, small-scale farms or private collections of wealthy aficionados who could afford the costly biosecurity measures necessary to keep them alive. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

The other measures by the department build on steps taken under the Biden administration, which began projects in 2023 to assess biosecurity at poultry facilities, paid producers hundreds of millions of dollars for culling their flocks and explored vaccinating poultry. —Linda Qiu, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025

He was scheduled to go to Iowa and Ohio to provide biosecurity in the battle against bird flu. —Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biosecurity

• immaturity
• insecurity
• prematurity
• cybersecurity
• impurity
• maturity
• obscurity
• security
• purity
• surety

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