bio-

life

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Close view of an adult pressing a fingertip onto a small fingerprint scanner, screen shows only the matching whorl fingerprint shape and a small green tick; focus identification trait, not generic phone use.

adjective / noun

biometric

by-oh-MET-rik/ˌbaɪəʊˈmetrɪk/

A measurable biological trait used for identification or analysis.

Etymology

bioEnglishlife

+metrEnglishmeasurement

+icEnglishconnected with or characteristic of

Life-measurement once meant calculating life expectancy and later applying mathematics to biology. For identification, the measured features are distinctive bodily or behavioral traits.

Full entry

Related word entries

biometric
bionic