life-form

noun

ˈlīf-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce life-form (audio)
-ˌfȯrm
: the body form that characterizes a kind of organism (such as a species) at maturity
also : a kind of organism

Examples of life-form in a Sentence

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.
Many histories of invasive species concern the life-forms that have been intentionally or accidentally introduced from Europe. Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 22 June 2026 This process contributed to the emergence of many diverse and complex eukaryotic life-forms on Earth. Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026 Our cooperation extends beyond caring for young and carries us to places no other life-form can dream of. Literary Hub, 5 May 2026 There’s a scientific theory that some of earth’s earliest life-forms emerged from within tiny bubbles known as vesicles—protective compartments for prebiological molecules. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 May 2026 But some suspect that earlier, simpler life-forms that predate even this common ancestor may have run on a leaner chemistry. Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026 But by tweaking this archetype again and again, Chan transforms a cheap gimmick into a complex ecosystem of life-forms. Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 Not only is it filled with hostile life-forms, but the planet itself is a shape-shifter — meaning its geography changes with each new mission. ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 The planet is a complex entity whose living and inorganic elements are interdependent, and whose life-forms actively modify the environment to maintain the most hospitable conditions for flourishing. Richard Schiffman, Christian Science Monitor, 6 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of life-form was in 1850

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Cite this Entry

“Life-form.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-form. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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