bio
noun
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bio
1 American
[bahy-oh]
/ ˈbaɪ oʊ /
adjective
-
biological.
a bio control service using praying mantises to reduce the population of garden pests.
bio-
2
American
bio-
1
British
combining form
-
indicating or involving life or living organisms
biogenesis
biolysis
-
indicating a human life or career
biography
biopic
bio
2
British
/ ˈbaɪəʊ /
noun
Usage
What does bio- mean? The combining form bio- is used like a prefix meaning “life.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology. The form bio- comes from Greek bíos, meaning “life.” The Latin cognate of bíos is vīta, “life,” which is the source of words such as vital. Find out more at our entry for vital. What are variants of bio-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, bio- becomes bi-, as in biome. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for bi-.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of bio1
1945–50; by shortening; as adj., independent use of bio-, taken as a free form
Origin of bio-2
Combining form of Greek bíos life; akin to Latin vīvus living, Sanskrit jīvas. See quick
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.
Bottle bio: Produced in Galicia, Spain, this is a classic Rías Baixas Albariño with aromas of lemon zest, green apple, white flowers and oyster shell.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
Bottle bio: A medium-bodied wine from Montevideo, Uruguay, with aromas of citrus blossom, grapefruit, white flowers and tropical fruits.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 6, 2026
“So all of these things are having really profound ripple effects. This is a situation where you really are seeing crystallized the need for bio preparedness.”
From Salon • May 11, 2026
In her bio, she calls herself "a Brooklyn lab rat", a description that feels at odds for someone now fronting some of the world's biggest fashion houses.
From BBC • May 9, 2026
He didn’t know anything about his bio dad, other than his last name and the fact that Joaquin only had to look in the mirror to know that his mysterious father hadn’t been white.
From "Far from the Tree" by Robin Benway
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.
