The present study aimed to investigate the biofunctions of microRNA (miR)‑125b on lung cancer cells. A miR genechip array was used to examine the differential expression of miRs between 95D lung cancer cells and 16 human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells. Overexpression of miR‑125b was observed in the cell lines and in the lung carcinoma tissues compared with the adjacent tissues, confirmed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Bioinformatic analysis of miR‑125b was also performed, including target prediction, gene ontology and pathway analysis. MTT, flow cytometry and Transwell assays were also used to examine the effect of downregulated miR‑125b on the proliferation, apoptosis, invasive ability and cell cycle of 95D cells. Significant differences were observed in the expression of 45 miRs in the 95D cells compared with those in 16HBE cells and the expression of miR‑125b was significantly higher in 95D cells compared with that in 16HBE cells as well as in lung tumor tissues compared with that in adjacent tissues. In addition, inhibition of the expression of miR‑125b in 95D cells induced apoptosis, G1/S phase arrest and reduction of their invasive ability. In addition, bioinformatics software predicted that miR‑125b was involved in the regulation of several pathways associated with cancer, including the transforming growth factor‑β, Wnt and mitogen‑activated protein kinase signaling pathways. These data indicated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that miR‑125b may function as an oncogene in lung cancer.