organism

noun

or·​gan·​ism ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm How to pronounce organism (audio)
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 partJoseph 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
organismic adjective
or less commonly organismal
organismically adverb

Examples of organism in a Sentence

A human being is a complex organism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While shelling is allowed, live shelling (or taking shells with living organisms inside) is not. Skye Sherman, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025 These tags change in predictable ways as an organism ages. New Atlas, 30 July 2025 Diverse algae are essential to healthy marine ecosystems, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and benefiting organisms all the way up the food chain, from sea sponges and crabs to whales. Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 26 July 2025 And how does that change dynamics in an ecosystem more broadly? Elysia chlorotica is also a lesson in how easily the boundaries between an organism and its environment can be traversed. Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for organism

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of organism was circa 1774

Cite this Entry

“Organism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organism. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

organism

noun
or·​gan·​ism ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce organism (audio)
1
: something having many related parts that function together as a whole
2
: an individual living thing that carries on the activities of life by means of organs which have separate functions but are dependent on each other : a living person, plant, or animal
organismic adjective

Medical Definition

organism

noun
or·​gan·​ism ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm How to pronounce organism (audio)
: an individual constituted to carry on the activities of life by means of organs separate in function but mutually dependent : a living being
organismic adjective
also organismal
organismically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on organism

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