Biology Glossary
Explore our biology glossary to find clear definitions for important biology terms, from DNA and cell membrane to photosynthesis, natural selection, and bacteria. With more than 1,870 entries across 15 life science domains, this resource organizes biology vocabulary by subject and starting letter so students, teachers, and curious readers can quickly locate a definition or discover a related concept.
Each entry uses readable language and may include pronunciation guidance, examples from nature, interesting facts, common misconceptions, and links for further exploration. Start with a subject such as anatomy, cell biology, genetics, ecology, microbiology, or zoology, then browse the alphabetical pages to build your understanding of life science one term at a time.
Every entry includes a pronunciation guide, word etymology, a nature example drawn from a real organism or habitat, a did-you-know fact, and a common misconception, making this glossary more useful than a simple definition list.
How the Biology Glossary Is Organized
BioExplorer’s biology glossary groups terms by major life science domains and by first letter, so readers can browse connected concepts as well as look up individual definitions. Each term page is designed for quick understanding, with definitions, examples, pronunciation, related terms, and learning notes where available.
Biology Glossary FAQs
A biology glossary is a reference collection of life science terms covering the vocabulary used across fields such as genetics, ecology, anatomy, cell biology, and evolution. BioExplorer’s biology glossary contains more than 1,870 entries organized across 15 domains, each written in plain language for students, educators, and general readers.
The glossary is organized by life science domain first, then alphabetically by first letter within each domain. For example, to find the definition of Mitosis, select Cell Biology, then browse the M page. This structure lets readers look up specific terms and also explore related vocabulary within the same subject area.
Every entry in this biology glossary includes a plain-language definition, pronunciation guide, word etymology, a nature example drawn from a real organism or habitat, a did-you-know fact, a common misconception, related terms, and further reading links. Most entries also include an alternative name where one exists.
This glossary is designed for high school and undergraduate students building science vocabulary, educators preparing lesson materials, science writers needing accurate definitions, and anyone curious about a biology term they encountered in reading or conversation. Definitions are written at a clear, accessible level without oversimplifying the science.
The glossary covers 15 life science domains: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Botany, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Genetics, Immunology, Marine Biology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Neuroscience, and Zoology. Each domain has its own hub page with alphabetical letter pages for browsing.
Textbook glossaries list definitions without context. Each entry here includes a real-world nature example, a did-you-know fact, and a common misconception alongside the definition. This helps readers not just memorize a term but understand where it appears in the natural world and where it is commonly misunderstood.
Yes. The alphabetical letter pages within each domain let you systematically review vocabulary by topic. Each entry includes the definition, a nature example that reinforces the concept, and a common misconception that highlights where students most often go wrong, which is particularly useful for exam preparation.
Definitions are written for readers at a high school to early undergraduate level. Technical terms are used where necessary but explained in plain language. The nature examples and did-you-know facts are chosen to make abstract concepts concrete, so the glossary works for both beginners encountering a term for the first time and more advanced readers who want a quick, accurate refresher.