genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm 

: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain

broadly : the genetic material of an organism compare proteome

Examples of genome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Whole-genome sequencing revealed the orb shared lots of genetic material with deep-sea anemones. —Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 Apr. 2026

By analyzing nearly 16,000 ancient genomes spanning 10,000 years, researchers identified a list of traits that nature is actively pushing forward. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

He is widely known for pioneering large-scale analysis of ancient human genomes and for showing how population mixture shaped human history. —Big Think, 21 Apr. 2026

In places scientists weren’t looking, and in parts of the genome dismissed as structural, there were functional molecules with potential to treat disease. —Asaf Elia-Shalev, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

German Genom, from Gen gene + -om (as in Chromosom chromosome)

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing genome

• genome editing

Rhymes for genome

• biome
• megohm
• nichrome
• noisome
• prodrome
• radome
• rhizome
• shalom
• syndrome
• acrosome
• aerodrome
• catacomb

Medical Definition

genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm 

: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain

broadly : the genetic material of an organism

The idea behind sequencing an organism's genome—decoding, letter by letter, the message contained in every last one of its genes—is that it would tell us a lot about how the organism works.

—Lori Oliwenstein, Discover