bioethics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction

bio·​eth·​ics ˌbi-(ˌ)ō-ˈe-thiks How to pronounce bioethics (audio)
: a discipline dealing with the ethical implications of biological research and applications especially in medicine
bioethical adjective
bioethicist noun

Examples of bioethics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
That's when his wife, Christine — who's the chief of the department of bioethics at the National Institutes of Health — stepped in. Nicole Wetsman, ABC News, 13 Dec. 2022 If there is a 25-year-old cancer patient and a 60-year-old in good health, the hospital might choose the 60-year-old, said Arthur Caplan, professor of bioethics at the Grossman School of Medicine at New York University. Joel Shurkin, Discover Magazine, 2 Apr. 2020 Rosemary Gibson, a senior adviser at the Hastings Center, a bioethics think-tank. Richard Vanderford, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022 Seago, who has a doctorate in bioethics, said new legislation would probably be introduced to combat the new practices. Pam Belluck, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Sep. 2022 See all Example Sentences for bioethics 

Word History

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bioethics was in 1970

Dictionary Entries Near bioethics

Cite this Entry

“Bioethics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bioethics. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

bioethics

noun, plural in form but singular in construction
bio·​eth·​ics -ˈeth-iks How to pronounce bioethics (audio)
: the discipline dealing with the ethical implications of biological research and applications especially in medicine
bioethic noun
bioethical adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on bioethics

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!