Meaning & use
biohazard
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountabletechnical
A living organism or biological material, such as a virus or infected waste, that can cause disease or harm to people or the environment.
Grammar: A countable noun: one biohazard, several biohazards.
Patterns
- a biohazard to someone
- a biohazard in something
Used needles are treated as a biohazard and thrown into special containers.
The spill in the lab was reported as a possible biohazard.
Hospital workers must follow strict rules to avoid contact with every biohazard.
nouncountable
The warning symbol or label that marks material or an area as dangerous because of biological risk.
Grammar: Often used as a modifier before a noun: a biohazard sign, biohazard bag.
Patterns
- a biohazard sign
- a biohazard bag
A bright orange biohazard symbol was printed on the bin.
The door carried a biohazard warning, so we stayed out.
Staff put the samples in a red biohazard bag.
Word forms
| plural | biohazards |
|---|
Common combinations
- biohazard symbol
- The biohazard symbol warned visitors to stay out of the room.
- biohazard waste
- Biohazard waste is collected separately from ordinary trash.
- biohazard suit
- The technician put on a biohazard suit before entering.
- pose a biohazard
- The leaking container could pose a biohazard to the whole building.
- biohazard level
- The lab works at a high biohazard level and limits access.
Synonyms and how they differ
- contaminant
- A contaminant is any substance that makes something unclean or unsafe, including chemicals, whereas a biohazard is specifically biological.
- pathogen
- A pathogen is the particular germ that causes disease, while a biohazard is the broader risk, including contaminated materials.
- health hazard
- Health hazard is a general phrase for any danger to health, such as noise or fumes, and is less specific than biohazard.
Word family
Practice
Which item would a lab most clearly label as a biohazard?
Choose one answer.
Blood samples may carry disease-causing organisms, so they are a biohazard. Bleach is a chemical hazard, scissors are a physical hazard, and paper is ordinary waste.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “biohazard”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.