genome

noun

ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm How to pronounce genome (audio)
: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain
broadly : the genetic material of an organism compare proteome

Examples of genome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Is an individual even a network, or is an individual just a genome, tiny little nuclei floating inside this tube? — Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 One of the other things that Claude noticed was that these array of associated reverse transcriptases seem to be isolated to jumbo phages, which have very large genomes for bacteriophage. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2026 The team collected the curious fruiting bodies, and grew spores back in the lab to study the fungus’ morphology and its genome. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 Are there a small number of dramatic changes in key genes, or hundreds of small changes across the genome? — Ornob Alam, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for genome

Word History

Etymology

German Genom, from Gen gene + -om (as in Chromosom chromosome)

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of genome was in 1926

Phrases Containing genome

Rhymes for genome

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Browse Nearby Words

genoise
genome
genomere
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Cite this Entry

“Genome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genome. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Medical Definition

genome

noun
ge·​nome ˈjē-ˌnōm How to pronounce genome (audio)
: one haploid set of chromosomes with the genes they contain
broadly : the genetic material of an organism
The idea behind sequencing an organism's genome—decoding, letter by letter, the message contained in every last one of its genes—is that it would tell us a lot about how the organism works. —Lori Oliwenstein, Discover

More from Merriam-Webster on genome

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about genome

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