biotelemetry: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “biotelemetry” mean?
The remote measurement and transmission of biological data from a living organism.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The remote measurement and transmission of biological data from a living organism.
A technology-driven field concerned with monitoring physiological data (heart rate, body temperature, movement) from animals or humans at a distance, often using radio or satellite tags, primarily for research, medical, or conservation purposes.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. The word is used identically in both scientific communities.
Connotations
Neutral scientific/technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in both UK and US English, confined to specific professional fields.
Grammar
How to Use “biotelemetry” in a Sentence
[Biotelemetry] is used to monitor [organism]Researchers employ/use [biotelemetry] to track [physiological parameter]The [study] relies on [biotelemetry]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “biotelemetry” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The team will biotelemetrise the released birds to gather migration data.
American English
- The researchers biotelemetered the elk's movements throughout the winter.
adverb
British English
- The seals were monitored biotelemetrically for two full years.
American English
- The patient's vitals were tracked biotelemetrically after the experimental surgery.
adjective
British English
- The biotelemetric signals from the badger sett were surprisingly strong.
American English
- The biotelemetry data showed the shark diving to incredible depths.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused. Might appear in a niche B2B context for medical device or wildlife tech companies.
Academic
Primary context. Used in biology, ecology, veterinary science, sports medicine, and biomedical engineering papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would only be used if explaining one's highly specialised job or a documentary topic.
Technical
The standard register. Used by researchers, wildlife conservationists, and medical device engineers.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “biotelemetry”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “biotelemetry”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biotelemetry”
- Misspelling as 'bio-telemetry' (hyphen is generally not used in modern scientific writing).
- Confusing it with 'telemedicine' (which is broader healthcare at a distance).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'We biotelemetered the bear' is non-standard; prefer 'We used biotelemetry on the bear' or 'We tracked the bear via biotelemetry').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while common in wildlife research, it is also used in human medicine (e.g., remote patient monitoring) and sports science.
GPS tracking provides location data. Biotelemetry is broader, encompassing the remote measurement of any biological data (e.g., heart rate, temperature, brain activity), which may include or be paired with location data.
Yes, specialised acoustic biotelemetry tags are used to track marine animals like sharks and fish, as radio waves do not travel well through water.
Conceptually, yes. A smartwatch that measures your heart rate and transmits the data to your phone is performing a basic form of consumer biotelemetry.
The remote measurement and transmission of biological data from a living organism.
Biotelemetry is usually technical / academic in register.
Biotelemetry: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪ.əʊ.tɪˈlem.ə.tri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.təˈlem.ə.tri/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: BIOlogy + TELEmetry (distant measurement). It's like a telephone call for an animal's biological data.
Conceptual Metaphor
ORGANISMS ARE DATA TRANSMITTERS / LIVING BEINGS ARE WIRELESS NETWORKS.
Practice
Quiz
In which field would you be LEAST likely to encounter the term 'biotelemetry'?