morphologist

1 of 2

noun

mor·​phol·​o·​gist mȯr-ˈfäl-ə-jəst How to pronounce morphologist (audio)
: a person specializing in morphology

morphology

2 of 2

noun

mor·​phol·​o·​gy mȯr-ˈfäl-ə-jē How to pronounce morphology (audio)
plural morphologies
1
: a branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of animals and plants especially with respect to the forms, relations, metamorphoses, and phylogenetic development of organs apart from their functions see anatomy sense 1 compare physiology sense 1
2
: the form and structure of an organism or any of its parts

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What is morphology?

Within the field of biology, morphology is the study of the shapes and arrangement of parts of organisms, in order to determine their function, their development, and how they may have been shaped by evolution. Morphology is particularly important in classifying species, since it can often reveal how closely one species is related to another. Morphology is studied within other sciences as well, including astronomy and geology. And in language, morphology considers where words come from and why they look the way they do.

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Cite this Entry

“Morphologist.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/morphologist. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.

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