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
Did you know?
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Eventually, liquid biopsy might be used to screen for previously undetected cancers in both dogs and people, Karlsson says.
—
Knowable Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Guidelines for prostate cancer screening note that people should work with their healthcare provider to consider the benefits of early detection of prostate cancer vs. the risks, such as unnecessary biopsies (removal of tissue to analyze in the lab) and overtreatment.
—Julie Scott, People.com, 8 July 2025
That’s in line with the new ACOG guidance, which applies to a wide range of interventions that require cervical stabilization such as endocervical biopsies, hysteroscopies and in IVF
Educating Clinicians—and Women
Changing clinical practice isn’t just about launching a product.
—Lisa Falco, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
There is a chemical signal of cancer in the blood, and, with liquid biopsies, science has become sophisticated enough to identify cancer from simply drawing blood rather than through imaging or physical exam.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
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Knowable Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 July 2025
Guidelines for prostate cancer screening note that people should work with their healthcare provider to consider the benefits of early detection of prostate cancer vs. the risks, such as unnecessary biopsies (removal of tissue to analyze in the lab) and overtreatment.
—Julie Scott, People.com, 8 July 2025
That’s in line with the new ACOG guidance, which applies to a wide range of interventions that require cervical stabilization such as endocervical biopsies, hysteroscopies and in IVF
Educating Clinicians—and Women
Changing clinical practice isn’t just about launching a product.
—Lisa Falco, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
There is a chemical signal of cancer in the blood, and, with liquid biopsies, science has become sophisticated enough to identify cancer from simply drawing blood rather than through imaging or physical exam.
—Hannah Jocelyn, New Yorker, 17 June 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 6 Aug. 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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