GMO
Americanabbreviation
abbreviation
Usage
What is a GMO? GMO is an abbreviation for genetically modified organism. A GMO is any living thing that has had its genetics altered through genetic engineering. Typically, a GMO is created by first inserting a gene into the DNA of a single cell of an organism. Next, the scientist will stimulate the growth of this cell so that it quickly replicates. Eventually, the cell will replicate to such a point that all of the organism’s cells contain the modified gene that was originally inserted. A GMO can be any living thing, from a bacteria to a cow. The GMOs that most people are familiar with are genetically modified crops. Farmers will grow corn or other crops that have been modified to be resistant to chemicals like herbicides or have been modified to repel insects. GMOs can be appealing to farmers because they are easier to grow and can lower farmers’ costs. Besides plants, organisms such as bacteria and farm animals have been turned into GMOs. Bacteria have been modified to produce helpful chemicals such as insulin, and farm animals have had their genes modified to protect them from deadly diseases that would endanger large groups of animals.
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A high percentage of food crops, such as corn and soybeans, are genetically modified.
Etymology
Origin of GMO
First recorded in 1985–90
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She and Carretero later directed the 2016 medium-length doc “Seeds, Chronicles of the Earth,” about GMO experimentation on the island.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
Regardless, there is strong statistical support for this outcome, according to research conducted by the investment advisory firm GMO.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 22, 2026
“When things go well, they go really well, but when things go badly, they can go really badly,” said Tom Hancock, a portfolio manager at Boston-based GMO.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 5, 2026
Tom Hancock, manager of the GMO International Quality exchange-traded fund, which owns Taiwan Semi, says the stock—and the Taiwan ecosystem of chip-related companies—already trades at a discount because of the geopolitical cloud overhead.
From Barron's ● May 19, 2026
GMO corn is not bred the old-fashioned way, by crossing corn plants.
From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
