biopsy

noun

bi·​op·​sy ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 

plural biopsies

: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body

biopsy transitive verb

Did you know?

Matter examined in a biopsy is always taken from a living organism. Most biopsies are done by using a needle to extract tissue or fluid, but some may instead require cutting, and others may amount to nothing more than swabbing the inside of the patient's cheek. Biopsies are best known as a means of detecting cancer, but a doctor may also take a biopsy of heart muscle to investigate suspected heart disease, for example, or perform a biopsy on a pregnant woman to test for disorders in the fetus.

Examples of biopsy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There, doctors did a biopsy and delivered news that none of us were prepared for. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026

For biopsy mode, a gripper captures and stores tissue samples for later analysis, potentially allowing doctors to perform biopsies in difficult-to-access locations. —New Atlas, 8 June 2026

Cancer cells from one of her biopsies were sent off for research without her knowledge or consent. —Popular Science Team, Popular Science, 3 June 2026

Across just 30 days in April, students processed about 120,000 surgical instruments, memorizing the specific cleaning requirements for the many types of clamps, scissors and other devices used to perform everything from tumor biopsies to heart transplants. —Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary bi- entry 2 + -opsy (as in autopsy)

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

biopsy

noun

bi·​op·​sy ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 

plural biopsies

: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body

Medical Definition

biopsy

1 of 2 noun

bi·​op·​sy ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 

plural biopsies

: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body

biopsy

2 of 2 transitive verb

biopsied; biopsying

: to perform a biopsy on

the intestinal polyps were removed and biopsied