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

Microneedle patches that replace biopsies and blood draws Researchers at MIT and collaborating institutions have developed tiny microneedle patches capable of sampling immune cells directly from the skin. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 27 July 2026

That means that in order for the recipient to have children, his sperm would need to be collected via biopsy and then implanted into his partner through in vitro fertilization, Tournaye says. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 23 July 2026

The Gleason score is assigned after a pathologist examines biopsy samples. — Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Personalis’s liquid biopsy is part of a growing market for minimal residual disease tests, which the companies have said is a $20 billion opportunity. — Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 22 July 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