biochemistry

noun

bio·​chem·​is·​try ˌbī-ō-ˈke-mə-strē 

1

: chemistry that deals with the chemical compounds and processes occurring in organisms

2

: the chemical characteristics and reactions of a particular living organism or biological substance

biochemist

ˌbī-ō-ˈke-mist 

noun

Examples of biochemistry in a Sentence

advances in the field of biochemistry

Recent Examples on the Web

Lester furthered his education at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, receiving his master’s degree in biochemistry and psychology in 1964 and his doctorate degree in dentistry and oral surgery in 1966. —Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025

In 1977, Qadri moved to the United Kingdom with her husband, also a scientist, to do a Ph.D. in biochemistry and immunology at the University of Liverpool. —Bymartin Enserink, science.org, 6 Feb. 2025

Although Earth’s homegrown life may love L-serine and other similarly fundamental foodstuff, there’s no guarantee such substances would be appealing to alien organisms with a different biochemistry. —Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 5 Feb. 2025

The chemistry of fire is a biochemistry: Fire takes apart what photosynthesis puts together. —Stephen A. Pyne, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

biochemistry

noun

bio·​chem·​is·​try ˌbī-ō-ˈkem-ə-strē 

: chemistry that deals with the chemical compounds and processes occurring in living things

biochemical

-ˈkem-i-kəl

adjective

biochemically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb

biochemist

-ˈkem-əst 

noun

Medical Definition

biochemistry

noun

bio·​chem·​is·​try -ˈkem-ə-strē 

plural biochemistries

1

: chemistry that deals with the chemical compounds and processes occurring in organisms

2

: the chemical characteristics and reactions of a particular living organism or biological substance

a change in the patient's biochemistry accompanied her psychological depression