bioavailability

American  

[bahy-oh-uh-vey-luh-bil-i-tee] / ˌbaɪ oʊ əˌveɪ ləˈbɪl ɪ ti /

noun

Biochemistry.

1. the extent to which a nutrient or medication can be used by the body.

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bioavailability British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊəˌveɪləˈbɪlɪtɪ /

noun

1. Also called: systemic availability.  the extent to which a drug or other substance is taken up by a specific tissue or organ after administration; the proportion of the dose of a drug that reaches the systemic circulation intact after administration by a route other than intravenous

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Other Word Forms

• bioavailable
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of bioavailability

First recorded in 1965–70; bio- + available ( def. )

Example Sentences

“Systemic therapies have shown poor bioavailability in pancreatic tumors, limiting their effectiveness. Optune Pax is a fundamentally different treatment, utilizing a biophysical approach that targets the unique electrical properties of cancer cells.”

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

Of the many carotenoids found in nature, beta-carotene is the star player: a strong orange tint and high "bioavailability" — the term used to describe drug absorption — make it particularly influential.

From Salon • Jan. 20, 2025

Superoxide is a highly reactive ROS known for influencing ocean ecology, organisms' physiology, and driving chemistry in the ocean including the breakdown of carbon and the bioavailability of metals and nutrients.

From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2023

“If you take it orally, the bioavailability is in the range of 4–6%, which is terrible,” says Devinsky.

From Nature • Aug. 27, 2019

“Use of food as a way to increase bioavailability in patients with cancer could present problems and risks,” the drug's manufacturer, Janssen, said in a statement.

From Washington Post • Jun. 8, 2017