: 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.
Now, imagine someone uploading their genome file into a system such as Claude or ChatGPT. — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026 The scientists reconstructed and compared historic genome sequences of Jefferson and Hemings with DNA collected from 16 living individuals, including multiple descendants of Eston and Madison Hemings. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026 After reviewing the work, Feng Zhang, a CRISPR genome-editing pioneer and professor at MIT and the Broad Institute, said the finding warrants further investigation. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026 Sequencing a genome from old, rootless hair was once impossible, because the DNA within them has broken into very short segments. — Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Genome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/genome. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Medical Definition

: 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

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