biopsy
noun
bi·op·sy
ˈbī-ˌäp-sē 
plural biopsies
: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body
biopsy
transitive verb
Did you know?
Matter examined in a biopsy is always taken from a living organism. Most biopsies are done by using a needle to extract tissue or fluid, but some may instead require cutting, and others may amount to nothing more than swabbing the inside of the patient's cheek. Biopsies are best known as a means of detecting cancer, but a doctor may also take a biopsy of heart muscle to investigate suspected heart disease, for example, or perform a biopsy on a pregnant woman to test for disorders in the fetus.
Examples of biopsy in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Yes, the organ had looked diseased, but a biopsy would need to confirm that.
—
Matt Fuchs, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Usually, a biopsy is required to get clonable cells, but the scientists had figured out a way to obtain them merely by drawing blood.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
From this virtual reconstruction, clinicians can make cross-sectional images that mimic those generated by a standard biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is sliced into thin layers and placed on a slide to be examined under a microscope, according to a press release.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2025
After undergoing another biopsy, it was confirmed Friday that the cancer had spread to her liver.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
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Matt Fuchs, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Usually, a biopsy is required to get clonable cells, but the scientists had figured out a way to obtain them merely by drawing blood.
—D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025
From this virtual reconstruction, clinicians can make cross-sectional images that mimic those generated by a standard biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is sliced into thin layers and placed on a slide to be examined under a microscope, according to a press release.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2025
After undergoing another biopsy, it was confirmed Friday that the cancer had spread to her liver.
—Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for biopsy
Cite this Entry
“Biopsy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biopsy. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
biopsy
noun
bi·op·sy
ˈbī-ˌäp-sē
plural biopsies
: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body
Medical Definition
biopsy
1 of 2 noun
bi·op·sy
ˈbī-ˌäp-sē
plural biopsies
: the removal and examination of tissue, cells, or fluids from the living body
biopsy
2 of 2 transitive verb
biopsied; biopsying
: to perform a biopsy on
the intestinal polyps were removed and biopsied
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