biotechnology

American  

[bahy-oh-tek-nol-uh-jee] / ˌbaɪ oʊ tɛkˈnɒl ə dʒi /

noun

• biotechnologies
  plural

1. the use of living organisms or other biological systems in the manufacture of drugs or other products or for environmental management, as in waste recycling: includes the use of bioreactors in manufacturing, microorganisms to degrade oil slicks or organic waste, genetically engineered bacteria to produce human hormones, and monoclonal antibodies to identify antigens.

---

biotechnology British  

/ ˌbaɪəʊˌtɛknəˈlɒdʒɪkəl, ˌbaɪəʊtɛkˈnɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. (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

2. another name for ergonomics

---

biotechnology Scientific  

/ bī′ō-tĕk-nŏl′ə-jē /

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. See more at genetic engineering

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• biotechnologist
  noun
• biotechnical
  adjective
• biotechnological
  adjective
• biotechnologically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• biotechnologies
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

biotechnology biotechnologies

The Chinese AI biotechnology company recently submitted its IPO application to Chinese regulators, who have raised concerns over its “red-chip” holding structure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

These can include single-product biotechnology companies and other tech-oriented businesses.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 15, 2026

These include one from biotechnology company Moderna using their mRNA vaccine technology.

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Now, researchers are giving them an entirely new role in biotechnology.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 9, 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

We’re joined by a preeminent expert on matters of law, medicine, reproductive health, and biotechnologies, Dr. Michele Goodwin.

From Slate ● Mar. 2, 2024

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

“We need to manufacture advanced biotechnologies here in the United States.”

From Washington Times ● Sep. 12, 2022

The final batch, which the company described as worth “several billions of dollars,” would go toward biotechnologies developing new drugs designed to bolster competitiveness in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2022

Or we can reject our new biotechnologies and risk losing everything that we claim to protect.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 5, 2021