biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-(ˌ)ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents

also : measures taken to ensure this security

Examples of biosecurity in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials credit close surveillance of wild migratory birds, a slew of biosecurity measures — and a little luck. —Karen Kucher, Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2025

This was broken down into $500 million for biosecurity measures, $400 million for financial relief to affected farmers, and $100 million for vaccine research and exploring temporary import options. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025

Parker’s title is senior director for biosecurity and pandemic response. —Brenda Goodman, CNN, 17 Mar. 2025

Join 21 others in the comments View Comments The Trump administration’s plan to bring egg prices lower calls for an increase in biosecurity, a deployment of epidemiologists to work with egg producers, exploring new vaccines, as well as increasing egg imports. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for biosecurity

• immaturity
• insecurity
• prematurity
• cybersecurity
• impurity
• maturity
• obscurity
• security
• purity
• surety

Medical Definition

biosecurity

noun

bio·​se·​cu·​ri·​ty ˌbī-ō-si-ˈkyu̇r-ə-tē 

: security from exposure to harmful biological agents (such as pathogenic microorganisms)

You would expect the organisation responsible for ensuring biosecurity in labs working with dangerous animal pathogens like foot and mouth disease to know about any accidents that have occurred in those labs.

—Linda Geddes, New Scientist

also : measures taken to ensure this security

In areas where poultry farms are on adjoining or nearby properties or in areas tied together by common waterways, roads, or flyways, the risk of disease spread from one farm to another is greatly increased no matter what type of biosecurity is practiced by individual farms.

—Carol J. Cardona, in Avian Influenza