bioinformatics: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “bioinformatics” mean?
The science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as genetic codes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as genetic codes.
An interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, information engineering, mathematics, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data, especially from molecular biology and genomics. It develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or definitional differences. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard regional conventions.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both regions. Associated with cutting-edge biotechnology, healthcare, and pharmaceutical research.
Frequency
Equally frequent in academic and technical contexts in both regions, given the global nature of the field.
Grammar
How to Use “bioinformatics” in a Sentence
N/A (Primarily a noun; used in compound noun phrases like 'bioinformatics analysis of the genome')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bioinformatics” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The data needs to be bioinformatically processed.
- They plan to bioinformaticise their workflow.
American English
- The dataset was bioinformatically analyzed.
- We need to bioinformaticize our approach.
adverb
British English
- The genome was analysed bioinformatically.
American English
- The samples were processed bioinformatically.
adjective
British English
- She heads the bioinformatic research centre.
- They developed a novel bioinformatic algorithm.
American English
- He works in a bioinformatic core facility.
- This requires specialised bioinformatic software.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in biotech/pharma business contexts: 'The company invested heavily in bioinformatics to accelerate drug discovery.'
Academic
Core term in life sciences, computer science, and bioengineering curricula and research papers.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Might appear in popular science news.
Technical
The primary register. Refers to specific methodologies, tools, and sub-disciplines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bioinformatics”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bioinformatics”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bioinformatics”
- Treating it as a plural countable noun (e.g., 'These bioinformatics are...'). It is typically a singular mass noun.
- Confusing it with 'biometrics' (the science of measuring physical characteristics).
- Misspelling as 'bio-informatics' (though the hyphenated form is sometimes seen, the solid form is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are closely related and often used interchangeably. A subtle distinction sometimes made is that bioinformatics focuses more on developing tools and methods (e.g., algorithms, databases), while computational biology emphasizes applying those tools to specific biological questions.
A strong interdisciplinary background is required, typically combining knowledge of molecular biology, genetics, statistics, and computer programming (especially in languages like Python and R).
No. While human genomics is a major application, bioinformatics is used across all life sciences, including microbiology (bacterial genomes), agriculture (crop genetics), ecology (environmental DNA), and evolutionary biology.
Common outputs include annotated genome sequences, predictive models of protein structure, identified patterns in gene expression data, publicly accessible biological databases, and specialised software packages for biological data analysis.
The science of collecting and analysing complex biological data such as genetic codes.
Bioinformatics is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Bioinformatics: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪ.əʊ.ɪn.fəˈmæt.ɪks/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.ɪn.fɚˈmæt̬.ɪks/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BIOlogy + inFORMATICS. It's the informatics (data/computer science) applied to biological information.
Conceptual Metaphor
BIOLOGY IS A CODE/DATASET (to be deciphered, mined, and analysed).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary focus of bioinformatics?