biodata: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “biodata” mean?
A summary of a person's life and qualifications, often in a structured form for professional purposes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A summary of a person's life and qualifications, often in a structured form for professional purposes.
Used specifically in some contexts to refer to a detailed personal history, including academic, professional, and sometimes personal information, distinct from a more concise CV or resume.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'CV' is the overwhelmingly standard term. 'Biodata' is rarely used and would be considered old-fashioned or a regionalism. In American English, 'resume' is standard; 'biodata' is virtually unknown outside of specific immigrant community contexts.
Connotations
In the UK/US, 'biodata' sounds formal, dated, or bureaucratic. In India and neighbouring countries, it is a standard, neutral term.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both UK and US mainstream usage. High frequency in Indian English.
Grammar
How to Use “biodata” in a Sentence
submit + biodata + to + organisationattach + biodata + to + applicationVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare in international business; common in business within South Asia.
Academic
Sometimes used in formal applications in South Asian institutions.
Everyday
Not used in everyday UK/US English.
Technical
Not a technical term in sciences; used in HR/administrative contexts in certain regions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “biodata”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “biodata”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biodata”
- Using 'biodata' in an international context expecting it to be universally understood.
- Confusing it with 'biographical data' in a scientific sense.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In meaning, yes, it serves the same purpose. However, 'biodata' is often more detailed and structured, and is the preferred term in South Asian English, whereas 'resume' (US) or 'CV' (UK) is standard elsewhere.
It is not recommended. Using 'CV' (for the UK) or 'resume' (for the US) will be better understood and perceived as more professional.
In some cultural contexts where the term is standard, it often does include such personal details, unlike a typical Western CV/resume where this is usually omitted.
It is a portmanteau of 'biographical' and 'data', coined in the mid-20th century, gaining prominence in administrative and South Asian contexts.
A summary of a person's life and qualifications, often in a structured form for professional purposes.
Biodata is usually formal in register.
Biodata: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.əʊˌdeɪ.tə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbaɪ.oʊˌdeɪ.t̬ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the biodata (indicating something is formally documented).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BIO (life) + DATA (information) = information about a life.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS A DOCUMENT (for evaluation).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is 'biodata' a standard, commonly used term?