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
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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
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Skin biopsies involve a healthcare provider taking a small sample of skin for further examination.1312
A Quick Review
Atopic dermatitis is a skin condition that typically develops during childhood but can also occur later in life.
—
Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 29 Apr. 2025
Her lymph nodes swelled constantly, but biopsies showed no cancer.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
The harms behind additional screening could include subsequent testing, such as biopsies, and exposure to more radiation if follow-up X-rays are ordered.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025
He has been hospitalized twice for biopsies, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said.
—Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
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Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 29 Apr. 2025
Her lymph nodes swelled constantly, but biopsies showed no cancer.
—David Oliver, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025
The harms behind additional screening could include subsequent testing, such as biopsies, and exposure to more radiation if follow-up X-rays are ordered.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 22 Apr. 2025
He has been hospitalized twice for biopsies, doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston said.
—Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
Cite this Entry
“Biopsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biopsy. Accessed 20 May. 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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