biometrics
/ˌbaɪ.əʊˈmɛ.trɪks/ IELTSAcademic
noun
The use of body features, such as fingerprints or face shape, to identify a person. It is also the study of measuring living things, especially in science.
- My phone uses biometrics to unlock.
- The airport checks biometrics at security.
- Scientists collected biometrics from the plants.
Adinary Nuance
Biometrics is not the same as a fingerprint alone. It is the wider system or method that uses body features for identification. Use it when you mean the technology or process, not just one body feature. In science, it can also mean measuring living organisms.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sinh trắc học
- Spanish
- biometría
- Chinese
- 生物识别
- Japanese
- 生体認証
- Korean
- 생체 인식
Etymology
Biometrics comes from Greek roots: bio- meaning “life” and -metrics meaning “measuring.” The word entered English in the late 19th century, first for measuring living things, then for identity checks.
Common phrases
biometrics databiometrics systemuse biometricsbiometrics scanner
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is biometrics singular or plural?
- It looks plural, but it is usually used as a singular noun in modern English.
- What is the difference between biometrics and fingerprinting?
- Fingerprinting is one type of biometrics. Biometrics is the broader term for body-based identification.
- Is biometrics used in formal writing?
- Yes. It is common in academic, technical, and business writing.
- How do I use biometrics in a sentence?
- You can say: “The app uses biometrics for secure login.”