biotechnology

noun bio·tech·nol·o·gy \ ˌbī-ō-tek-ˈnä-lə-jē \

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of biotechnology

1 : the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (such as pest resistant crops, new bacterial strains, or novel pharmaceuticals); also : any of various applications of biological science used in such manipulation

2 : ergonomics 1

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biotechnological

play \-ˌtek-nə-ˈlä-ji-kəl\ adjective

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biotechnologically

play \-ji-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

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biotechnologist

play \-ˈnä-lə-jist\ noun

See biotechnology defined for English-language learners

See biotechnology defined for kids

Recent Examples of biotechnology from the Web

This development plan is going green The city also considered a possible grocery store, biotechnology lab facility and community garden for the space.

— kate talerico, The Courier-Journal, "Proposed Russell sports complex receives $10 million in city funding," 2 July 2018
There were 104 of them—98 focused on software patents and six others focused on biotechnology.

— timothy b. lee, Ars Technica, "Why a 40-year-old SCOTUS ruling against software patents still matters today," 21 June 2018
Multinational drug makers in China are fighting to hold on to top talent as senior local staff leave to join a booming domestic biotechnology sector drawing record investment, The Financial Times tells us.

— ed silverman, STAT, "Pharmalittle: Chinese companies poaching big pharma talent; a battle over generic Suboxone looms," 18 June 2018
David Goeddel is a world-renowned biotechnology pioneer, not that a 10-year-old would have thought of his father quite that way.

— bill shaikin, latimes.com, "His sons grew to be Dodgers after he invented substance now banned by MLB," 15 June 2018
Amgen will charge a lower-than-expected $6,900 a year for a novel migraine treatment that investors hope will become the biotechnology giant's next blockbuster.

— bloomberg news, NOLA.com, "FDA approves drug for chronic migraines -- and it'll cost $6,900 a year," 20 May 2018
With the cell line now the focus, raising money should be easier, says Nancy Kelley, a biotechnology lawyer who is co-leading the effort with Boeke and George Church, a genome scientist at Harvard Medical School in Boston.

— elie dolgin, Scientific American, "Scientists Downsize Bold Plan to Make Human Genome from Scratch," 1 May 2018
As friction with the U.S. intensifies over developing high-technology industries from biotechnology to robotics, the Politburo also called for breakthroughs in developing core technologies and support for new industries and businesses.

— Bloomberg.com, "Xi Ready to Respond as China Rattled by Trade, Debt Risks," 24 Apr. 2018
By that time, David Goeddel was running his own firm, after an unprecedented hit parade for Genentech, the Bay Area biotechnology company founded in 1976.

— bill shaikin, latimes.com, "His sons grew to be Dodgers after he invented substance now banned by MLB," 15 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'biotechnology.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of biotechnology

1921

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Other Microbiology Terms

pathogen, salmonella, tetanus

BIOTECHNOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners

biotechnology

noun

Definition of biotechnology for English Language Learners

: the use of living cells, bacteria, etc., to make useful products (such as crops that insects are less likely to destroy or new kinds of medicine)

BIOTECHNOLOGY Defined for Kids

biotechnology

noun bio·tech·nol·o·gy \ ˌbī-ō-tek-ˈnä-lə-jē \

Definition of biotechnology for Students

: the use of techniques from genetics to combine inherited characteristics selected from different kinds of organisms into one organism in order to produce useful products (as drugs)

Medical Dictionary

biotechnology

noun bio·tech·nol·o·gy \ -tek-ˈnäl-ə-jē \

medical Definition of biotechnology

plural biotechnologies

1 : the manipulation (as through genetic engineering) of living organisms or their components to produce useful usually commercial products (as novel pharmaceuticals); also : any of various applications of biological science used in such manipulation

2 : ergonomics

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