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
Early studies show that the patch can extract clinically relevant information comparable to that of conventional biopsies, particularly for cancer detection and inflammatory conditions.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
The pre-donation process — including bloodwork, exams and a liver biopsy — took about six months.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
Muscle biopsies and laboratory tests further showed that the genes responsible for the body’s cellular clocks were more synchronized under natural light conditions, the study revealed.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
During the first year of the tour, Gorman was flying back and forth between concert stops to Los Angeles, juggling rehearsals and performances with medical appointments, biopsies and the uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
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Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Jan. 2026
The pre-donation process — including bloodwork, exams and a liver biopsy — took about six months.
—Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Dec. 2025
Muscle biopsies and laboratory tests further showed that the genes responsible for the body’s cellular clocks were more synchronized under natural light conditions, the study revealed.
—Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 22 Dec. 2025
During the first year of the tour, Gorman was flying back and forth between concert stops to Los Angeles, juggling rehearsals and performances with medical appointments, biopsies and the uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 19 Dec. 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 3 Jan. 2026.
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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