biohazard
/ˈbaɪoʊˌhæzɚd/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 2.67 in modern English
24
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A biological hazard: a source of risk due to some biological factor such as bacteria or human waste.
Example Sentences
- "The OSHA procedures for this type of environment required all investigative and emergency response personnel to wear PPE when they accessed those areas of the accident site containing biological hazards and undergo decontamination procedures after departing the biohazard area."
- "South Western Railway's Basingstoke station has donated surplus biohazard waste bags to the nearby St Michael's Hospice."
- "People had to poo in bags, you see. Jan had to get on the public address system and explain to thousands of disbelieving passengers that “number ones” could be done in the shower but “number twos” must be done in the red biohazard bags being distributed, then placed in corridors for collection by unnamed staff, none of whom chose to appear in this documentary."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *gʷeyh₃-der. Ancient Greek βῐ́ος (bĭ́os) Ancient Greek βῐο- (bĭo-)der. English bio- English hazard English biohazard From bio- + hazard.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈbaɪoʊˌhæzɚd/
- British English: /ˈbaɪəʊˌhæzəd/