Biohazard
/ˈbaɪ.oʊˌhæz.ərd/noun
A biological substance or agent that poses a threat to the health of living organisms, especially humans.
Did you know?Biohazard is a modern compound coined in the 20th century, combining Greek bios (“life”) with hazard, a word that originally came through gaming and chance, making it a very literal label for dangerous life itself.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
bíos
“life”
Late Latin
Latin
bius / bios (via learned borrowing)
“life”
Middle English
French/English
harsard / hasard
“a game of chance; risk or peril”
Modern English
English
hazard
“danger; a source of risk”
20th Century
English
biohazard
“a biological agent or condition that is dangerous to humans or other living things”