organism
noun
or·gan·ism
| \ ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Definition of organism
1
: a complex structure of interdependent and subordinate elements whose relations and properties are largely determined by their function in the whole
the nation is not merely the sum of individual citizens at any given time, but it is a living organism, a mystical body … of which the individual is an ephemeral part— Joseph Rossi
2
: an individual constituted to carry on the activities of life by means of parts or organs more or less separate in function but mutually dependent : a living being
a multicellular organism
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Other Words from organism
organismic
\ ˌȯr-gə-ˈniz-mik
\
or less commonly organismal \ ˌȯr-gə-ˈniz-məl
\
adjective
\
or less commonly organismal \ ˌȯr-gə-ˈniz-məl
\
adjective
organismically
\ ˌȯr-gə-ˈniz-mi-k(ə-)lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
Examples of organism in a Sentence
A human being is a complex organism.
Recent Examples on the Web
The molecular biologist, a postdoctoral researcher in Texas in the year 2000, was breeding botany’s leading model organism, Arabidopsis, an unremarkable weed in the mustard family. — Quanta Magazine, "Unexpected ‘Germline’ Plant Cells May Shield New Generations," 5 Aug. 2019 The shapes suggest people or at least organisms, and her ability to infuse such a cold material with life is an achievement. — Darryl Ratcliff, Dallas News, "Latina artists in Dallas showcase 'were told ‘no,’ and they triumphed anyway’," 25 July 2019 Marine fluorescence exists in a variety of marine organisms, in temperate and tropical waters. — Smithsonian, "Amazing Photos Reveal the Hidden Light of Undersea Life," 25 July 2019 Researchers in a warming Arctic are discovering organisms, frozen and presumed dead for millennia, that can bear life anew. — Daniel Ackerman, Anchorage Daily News, "Ancient life awakens amid thawing ice caps and permafrost," 8 July 2019 The organisms that live in the sediment — one of the main food supplies for the fish — can’t. — Tony Briscoe, chicagotribune.com, "There’s a giant dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico — thanks in large part to pollution from Chicago," 14 June 2019 Paleosols are typically full of pollen and microfossils of simple organisms, such as diatoms, a kind of algae that can indicate climate conditions. — Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine, "Rising Seas Swallowed Countless Archaeological Sites. Scientists Want Them Back," 20 May 2019 And while the planet, and the living organisms that inhabit it, are being compromised by all kinds of pollution, plastic waste has steadily emerged as a sobering global crisis. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "5 Big Beauty Brands That Are Tackling the Industry’s Plastic Problem," 22 Apr. 2019 This is normal, and these organisms do not break down the structural components of wood. — Boston.com Real Estate, "Ask the Carpenter: Getting mold off cedar shingles, paint off brick," 18 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'organism.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for organism
organism
noun
English Language Learners Definition of organism
: an individual living thing
: a system with many parts that depend on each other and work together
See the full definition for organism in the English Language Learners Dictionary
organism
noun
or·gan·ism
| \ ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm
\
\
Kids Definition of organism
: a living thing made up of one or more cells and able to carry on the activities of life (as using energy, growing, or reproducing)
organism
noun
or·gan·ism
| \ ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm
\
\
Medical Definition of organism
: an individual constituted to carry on the activities of life by means of organs separate in function but mutually dependent : a living being
Other Words from organism
organismic
\ ˌȯr-gə-ˈniz-mik
\
also organismal \ -məl
\
adjective
\
also organismal \ -məl
\
adjective
organismically
\ -mi-k(ə-)lē
\
adverb
\
adverb
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