taxonomy
noun
tax·on·o·my
tak-ˈsä-nə-mē 
1
: the study of the general principles of scientific classification : systematics
2
: classification
especially
: orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships
Examples of taxonomy in a Sentence
the taxonomies of various plant groups
Recent Examples on the Web
Genetic divergence thresholds are commonly used in herpetology and broader taxonomy to evaluate whether a population represents a distinct species or merely a variant within an existing one.
—
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
In contrast to the space, time and knowledge required to know the paintings in prestigious museums—taxonomies that are often signifiers of upper class existence.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
In taxonomy, that’s a clear signal of a distinct organism rather than a regional variation.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2026
Ellie Pavlick, a computer scientist at Brown, has drawn up a taxonomy of our most common responses.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taxonomy
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Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 25 Feb. 2026
In contrast to the space, time and knowledge required to know the paintings in prestigious museums—taxonomies that are often signifiers of upper class existence.
—Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026
In taxonomy, that’s a clear signal of a distinct organism rather than a regional variation.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2026
Ellie Pavlick, a computer scientist at Brown, has drawn up a taxonomy of our most common responses.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taxonomy
Cite this Entry
“Taxonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taxonomy. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
taxonomy
noun
tax·on·o·my
tak-ˈsän-ə-mē
1
: the study of scientific classification
2
: classification sense 2a
especially
: orderly classification of living things according to their presumed natural relationships
Medical Definition
taxonomy
noun
tax·on·o·my
tak-ˈsän-ə-mē
plural taxonomies
1
: the study of the general principles of scientific classification : systematics
2
: orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships
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