biotechnology
Americannoun
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biotechnologies
plural
noun
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(in industry) the technique of using microorganisms, such as bacteria, to perform chemical processing, such as waste recycling, or to produce other materials, such as beer and wine, cheese, antibiotics, and (using genetic engineering) hormones, vaccines, etc
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another name for ergonomics
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The use of a living organism to solve an engineering problem or perform an industrial task. Using bacteria that feed on hydrocarbons to clean up an oil spill is one example of biotechnology.
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The use of biological substances or techniques to engineer or manufacture a product or substance, as when cells that produce antibodies are cloned in order to study their effects on cancer cells.
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See more at genetic engineering
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of biotechnology
First recorded in 1940–45; bio- + technology
Explanation
Biotechnology may sound like the stuff of science fiction, but it's a real area of science that deals with the overlap of engineering and biology. The Greek root bio- means "life," so biotechnology is "life technology" — technology that uses living things in products or processes, or that which focuses on designing things to benefit humans (living things) biologically. Vaccines, genetically modified foods, biofuels, and DNA fingerprinting are all examples of biotechnology. Ergonomics — designing equipment that reduces workers' discomfort, stress, or fatigue — is also often considered a branch of biotechnology, as it's technology developed to make our lives better from a biological perspective.
Vocabulary lists containing biotechnology
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: bio
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"The Exterminator" by Kirsten Weir
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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.
See Examples For:
The work also highlights how biotechnology can alter the nutritional properties of microorganisms and other rapidly growing food sources.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
The biotechnology company on Tuesday said it was halting the development of AMG 513, a potential obesity treatment currently in a phase 1 study.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
Hong Kong has been one of the world’s busiest places for listings this year, fueled by a fundraising frenzy largely driven by Chinese companies associated with the artificial-intelligence, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sectors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
These can include single-product biotechnology companies and other tech-oriented businesses.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026
The story went on to say, “The federal government is permitting a California biotechnology company to license three experimental cancer drugs from Cuba—making an exception to the policy of tightly restricting trade with that country.”
From "The World Is Flat" by Thomas L. Friedman
The ability to create new biotechnologies is becoming increasingly important for tackling global challenges spanning the sustainable production of chemicals, materials and food, to advanced therapeutics to combat emerging diseases.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 21, 2024
And she anticipated “new collaborations among businesses, universities, labor, and local communities” concerning “advanced computing, biotechnologies and biomanufacturing, and clean energy technologies.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 1, 2023
“We need to manufacture advanced biotechnologies here in the United States.”
From Washington Times ● Sep. 12, 2022
We also must ensure that the scopes of definitions encompass the possibilities posed by emerging biotechnologies, regardless of the degree to which they will or will not be regulated.
From Slate ● Mar. 22, 2021
Working with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, they helped steer money into COVID-19 vaccine candidates and biotechnologies that could be quickly manufactured and suitable for the developing world.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 23, 2020
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.
