biomedicine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “biomedicine” mean?
The branch of medical science that applies biological and physiological principles to clinical practice.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The branch of medical science that applies biological and physiological principles to clinical practice.
It encompasses research and practical application of biology, biochemistry, and other life sciences to medicine, including pharmacology, medical genetics, and immunology.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Spelling of related compounds (e.g., biomedical) follows national conventions (e.g., 'center' vs 'centre' in 'biomedical research centre/center').
Connotations
Universally associated with high-tech, research-intensive modern medicine.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American academic contexts due to larger scale of private biomedical research sector.
Grammar
How to Use “biomedicine” in a Sentence
study + biomedicineadvances in + biomedicineresearch in + the field of + biomedicineVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “biomedicine” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The discovery has the potential to revolutionise how we approach disease.
- Researchers are working to translate basic science into clinical applications.
American English
- The discovery has the potential to revolutionize how we approach disease.
- Researchers are working to translate basic science into clinical applications.
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverbial form; 'biomedically' is extremely rare and non-standard.]
- [Use 'from a biomedical perspective' instead.]
American English
- [No direct adverbial form; 'biomedically' is extremely rare and non-standard.]
- [Use 'from a biomedical perspective' instead.]
adjective
British English
- She is a leading biomedicine researcher.
- The biomedicine sector received substantial funding.
American English
- She is a leading biomedicine researcher.
- The biomedicine sector received substantial funding.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry sector.
Academic
Core term for university departments, research papers, and degree programmes.
Everyday
Rarely used; replaced by simpler terms like 'medical research'.
Technical
Precise term for the interdisciplinary science combining biology and medicine.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “biomedicine”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “biomedicine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biomedicine”
- Misspelling as 'bio-medicine' (hyphen is largely archaic).
- Confusing with 'biomechanics'.
- Using as a synonym for all medicine.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Medicine is the broader practice of diagnosing and treating illness. Biomedicine is a specific scientific approach within medicine, focusing on biological explanations and interventions.
Biomedicine is focused on understanding and treating human disease. Biotechnology is a broader field using living systems to develop products, which can include applications in agriculture, industry, and medicine. Biomedical applications are a subset of biotechnology.
Rarely. It is primarily an uncountable mass noun referring to the field. In very specific contexts, it can be used countably to refer to a specific product or therapeutic derived from biological research (e.g., 'a new biomedicine for arthritis'), but this usage is less common.
Common degree titles include 'Bachelor of Science in Biomedicine', 'Biomedical Sciences', or 'Biomedical Engineering'.
The branch of medical science that applies biological and physiological principles to clinical practice.
Biomedicine is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Biomedicine: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪ.əʊˈmed.ɪ.sən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪ.oʊˈmed.ə.sən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this technical term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BIOlogy applied to MEDICINE = BIOMEDICINE.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A MACHINE (biomedicine often seeks mechanistic explanations for disease).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is MOST closely associated with biomedicine?