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

Achievements such as vaccines, genome mapping and the management of deadly diseases save lives daily. — Mona Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

Most of the genome is non-coding and contains a mix of things, including centromeres, which help ensure chromosomes are divided evenly between cells, and caps that protect the chromosome ends. — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

That breakdown matters because the protein-coding part of DNA accounts for about 2% of the genome; the other 98% governs when and where genes are switched on. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026

On Tuesday the company released AlphaGenome Atlas, a database that charts predictions of the possible effects of nine billion single variants in the human genome. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 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
• nichrome
• noisome
• prodrome
• radome
• rhizome
• shalom
• syndrome
• acrosome
• aerodrome
• catacomb
• centrosome

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