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

Some of these reforms include modernizing regulatory frameworks, investing in national biosecurity infrastructure, and making strategic investments. —Thomas Bostick, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Joseph Allman At midnight one day in spring 2023, a team of animal rights investigators decked out in biosecurity gear snuck onto a massive chicken farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, an hour and a half drive from Baltimore. —Kenny Torrella, Vox, 31 Mar. 2025

Facilities that have been hit with bird flu will receive a biosecurity audit before restocking to help protect future flocks, Rollins said. —Donnelle Eller, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025

The biosecurity aspect relates to securing farms, such as preventing wild birds from entering. —John Towfighi, CNN, 27 Feb. 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