biomedicine

Meaning of biomedicine: Biomedicine applies the methods and findings of biology and related natural sciences to human health, forming the scientific foundation of mainstream clinical practice.

Definition of biomedicine

Biomedicine is the branch of medical science that applies principles from biology, chemistry, and physiology to understanding disease and guiding clinical care. It underlies the diagnostic tests, drugs, surgical techniques, and other interventions used in mainstream medical practice.

The term is also used more broadly to describe the conventional system of health care delivered by physicians and other licensed professionals, built on this scientific foundation, as distinguished from traditional or alternative approaches that rely on different frameworks of explanation.

Biomedicine encompasses both basic research, which investigates how the body works at the molecular, cellular, and organ level, and its translation into practical tools such as vaccines, medications, and diagnostic technology, making it the scientific basis for most care delivered in hospitals and clinics.

Also known as

allopathic medicineconventional medicineWestern medicine
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Used in a sentence

The review summarized recent biomedicine research relevant to the management of the condition.

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Good to know

Biomedicine is sometimes used narrowly to mean basic biological research and other times to mean the whole system of conventional medical care, so the intended meaning depends on context.

Word origin

Where “biomedicine” comes from

Formed from Greek bios, meaning life, combined with the English word medicine, itself from Latin medicina, meaning the art of healing.

For learning, not diagnosis. This glossary provides general educational information and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified healthcare professional. If you may be experiencing a medical emergency, contact local emergency services.