in silico
adverb or adjective
in sil·i·co in-ˈsi-li-ˌkō 
: in or on a computer : done or produced by using computer software or simulation
in silico predictions
dissect a frog in silico
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."
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Biotech entrepreneurs now routinely utilize in silico modeling and contract research organizations to conduct early-stage experiments. 
Neil Littman, Forbes, 16 June 2021 Jonathan Lynch, a plant physiologist at The Pennsylvania State University and another founder of the crops in silico movement, looks at root behavior under a range of soil nutrient conditions. Leslie Nemo, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2017 Beyond speeding results and mitigating the risks of clinical trials, in silico medicine can be used in place of risky interventions that are required for diagnosing or planning treatment of certain medical conditions. Daniel E. Hurtado, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2020 The philosophy behind in silico medicine is not new. Daniel E. Hurtado, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2020 Silver and colleagues might phrase this explicitly by highlighting the in silico nature of the forecasts: His predictions aren’t for the world as is, but are based on data that might reflect voter behavior. C. Brandon Ogbunu, Wired, 10 Nov. 2020 His lab combines a machine learning platform that generates new molecules in silico with a synthesizer that prints out these new molecules for a pipetting robot, which then performs experiments on them. Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2020 For all its apparent power, in silico work will not replace in vitro testing — and certainly not clinical trials. Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2020 Levy’s book about the science and nuance of life creation in silico. New York Times, 13 Mar. 2020 See More
Neil Littman, Forbes, 16 June 2021 Jonathan Lynch, a plant physiologist at The Pennsylvania State University and another founder of the crops in silico movement, looks at root behavior under a range of soil nutrient conditions. Leslie Nemo, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2017 Beyond speeding results and mitigating the risks of clinical trials, in silico medicine can be used in place of risky interventions that are required for diagnosing or planning treatment of certain medical conditions. Daniel E. Hurtado, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2020 The philosophy behind in silico medicine is not new. Daniel E. Hurtado, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2020 Silver and colleagues might phrase this explicitly by highlighting the in silico nature of the forecasts: His predictions aren’t for the world as is, but are based on data that might reflect voter behavior. C. Brandon Ogbunu, Wired, 10 Nov. 2020 His lab combines a machine learning platform that generates new molecules in silico with a synthesizer that prints out these new molecules for a pipetting robot, which then performs experiments on them. Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2020 For all its apparent power, in silico work will not replace in vitro testing — and certainly not clinical trials. Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2020 Levy’s book about the science and nuance of life creation in silico. New York Times, 13 Mar. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin, literally, in silicon
First Known Use
1987, in the meaning defined above
Medical Definition
in silico
adjective or adverb
in sil·i·co in-ˈsi-li-ˌkō
: in or on a computer : done or produced by using computer software or simulation
A structure as complex as the human brain … can't simply be replicated in silico; you can't draw up a blueprint for the myriad interconnections of our billions of neurons. Steven Johnson, The Nation
Steven Johnson, The Nation