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
In spring 2024, a WTA doctor advised her to undergo a mammogram, before a biopsy confirmed the cancer diagnosis.
—
James Hansen, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Dani Yuengling needed a breast biopsy after a concerning mammogram.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024
The charter captain and Bravo reality star from Below Deck Down Under posted a video to Instagram Monday, Dec. 16 giving an update on a recent biopsy from his abdomen.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
State of play: Innovation bright spots include point-of-care testing, liquid biopsies (a potentially non-invasive alternative to a traditional biopsy) and precision medicine (personalized treatment based on genomic testing).
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for biopsy 
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James Hansen, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
Dani Yuengling needed a breast biopsy after a concerning mammogram.
—Elisabeth Rosenthal, NPR, 20 Dec. 2024
The charter captain and Bravo reality star from Below Deck Down Under posted a video to Instagram Monday, Dec. 16 giving an update on a recent biopsy from his abdomen.
—Rachel Flynn, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024
State of play: Innovation bright spots include point-of-care testing, liquid biopsies (a potentially non-invasive alternative to a traditional biopsy) and precision medicine (personalized treatment based on genomic testing).
—Erin Brodwin, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for biopsy
Dictionary Entries Near biopsy
Cite this Entry
“Biopsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biopsy. Accessed 14 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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