GMO

American  

[jee-em-oh] / ˈdʒiˈɛmˈoʊ /

abbreviation

1. genetically modified organism: an organism or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering.

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GMO British  

abbreviation

1. genetically modified organism

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GMO Scientific  

1. Abbreviation of genetically modified organism

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GMO Cultural  

1. The abbreviation for g enetically m odified o rganism. A GMO is an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there.

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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

Matthew Macfadyen is Les Littlejohn, the small-making husband, whose public claim to fame is a superior GMO tomato.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

GMO calculates that, historically, a 1% increase in the stock market’s total market capitalization because of IPOs corresponds to a 7.5% decrease in the market’s subsequent 12-month return.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 17, 2026

“Natural gas accounts, in my opinion, for like 100% of the unexpected American surge in relative GDP,” said Jeremy Grantham, co-founder and long-term investment strategist at Boston money-manager GMO.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

On the ETF side, iShares International Select Dividend and GMO International Value were each up over 9% for the quarter and over 45% in 2025.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

But many farmers like George Naylor refuse to grow GMO crops.

From "The Omnivore's Dilemma" by Michael Pollan