noun

biopsy

/ˈbaɪ.ɑp.si/ · say it: BY·op·see

removing tissue to examine it for disease

In more detail

1. (noun) a medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue or cells is removed from the body and examined under a microscope to check for disease, especially cancer

Examples

1. The doctor ordered a biopsy to determine if the growth was cancerous.

How to use biopsy

Biopsy is a standard medical term used in clinical, diagnostic, and healthcare contexts to refer to the diagnostic procedure itself or the tissue sample obtained. It is used neutrally by medical professionals and in patient communication, appearing in both formal medical documents and everyday clinical discussions.

Common phrases

perform a biopsy
undergo a biopsy
biopsy results
biopsy sample
breast biopsy
skin biopsy

Synonyms

tissue sample · biopsy specimen · needle biopsy · excision biopsy

Word family

biopsied (verb) · biopsying (verb)

A common mistake

Learners sometimes confuse biopsy with biopsy results; a biopsy is the procedure or sample, while results are the findings that come after examination.

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