in silico
adverb or adjective
Did you know?
In silico literally means "in silicon" in New Latin, and is a nod to the importance of silicon in the creation of computer chips. (The same nod is given in the name "Silicon Valley.") In silico, which dates only to the early 1990s, is modeled on and often contrasted with two similarly-structured terms, both of which date to the pre-computer days right around the start of the 20th century. In vitro means "outside the living body and in an artificial environment." (In New Latin in vitro means "in glass.") In vivo translates as "in the living" in New Latin, and is used in English to mean "in the living body of a plant or animal."
Examples of in silico in a Sentence
The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024
And the consequences when controlling a real jet fighter can be a lot more severe than just testing in silico.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 19 Apr. 2024
To be clear, Lake and his colleagues do not claim to have replicated in silico how toddlers actually learn.
—Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Regulators must invest in a portfolio of programs that move beyond in silico testing to support use of AI in real, diverse clinical environments.
—Mark P. Sendak, STAT, 7 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for in silico 
Dictionary Entries Near in silico
Cite this Entry
“In silico.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20silico. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
in silico
adjective or adverb
Steven Johnson, The Nation
Share