metagenomics

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noun

The study of genomes recovered from environmental samples; especially the differentiation of genomes from multiple organisms or individuals, either in a symbiotic relationship, or at a crime scene.

OriginEnglish genomics ← Ancient Greek μετᾰ- (metă-) ← Proto-Indo-European *meth₂? →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounmetagenomics (uncountable)
  1. uncountablebiologyThe study of genomes recovered from environmental samples; especially the differentiation of genomes from multiple organisms or individuals, either in a symbiotic relationship, or at a crime scene.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*me
  2. Proto-Indo-European*meth₂?
  3. Ancient Greekμετᾰ́ (metắ)
  4. Ancient Greekμετᾰ- (metă-)
  5. Englishmeta-
  6. Englishgenomics
  7. Englishmetagenomics

From meta- + genomics.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

German Metagenomik
  • Metagenomikstudy of genomes from environmental samples
Italian metagenomica
  • metagenomicastudy of genomes from environmental samples
Spanish metagenómica
  • metagenómicastudy of genomes from environmental samples
Cite this entry
APA

metagenomics. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metagenomics

MLA

“metagenomics.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metagenomics. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “metagenomics,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/metagenomics.

Source: metagenomics on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.