organism
noun
or·gan·ism
ˈȯr-gə-ˌni-zəm 
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
Joseph Rossi2
: 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
Examples of organism in a Sentence
A human being is a complex organism.
Recent Examples on the Web
Within and outside the path of totality, citizen scientists snapped pictures of organisms’ reactions to the event, then uploaded them to iNaturalist’s page for the project, organized by the California Academy of Sciences.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
High levels of fecal bacteria indicate the presence of pathogenic organisms that are found in warm-blooded animal waste and pose potential health risks to people who recreate in contaminated waters.
—Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
One of the first organisms that grows in a baby’s gut comes from the genus Bifidobacterium, and some of those bacteria have anti-inflammatory properties, according to David Mills, a microbiologist and professor at the University of California, Davis.
—Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 29 Mar. 2024
The water company blamed for discharging sewage into the Thames stressed that E. coli was a naturally occurring organism and likely to be present in floodwater.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
At this time, there was a major interest in understanding the molecules that orchestrate the development of organisms.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The alkaline stream that Ebb returns to the sea should reduce acidity locally and could boost the growth of marine organisms.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2024
Siphonophores are colonial organisms consisting of numerous individual parts known as zooids.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope and the Galileo space probe have detected evidence of water plumes erupting from Europa’s surface, potentially indicating the subsurface sea has a source of heat that could sustain organisms.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
High levels of fecal bacteria indicate the presence of pathogenic organisms that are found in warm-blooded animal waste and pose potential health risks to people who recreate in contaminated waters.
—Richard Halstead, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
One of the first organisms that grows in a baby’s gut comes from the genus Bifidobacterium, and some of those bacteria have anti-inflammatory properties, according to David Mills, a microbiologist and professor at the University of California, Davis.
—Deborah Balthazar, STAT, 29 Mar. 2024
The water company blamed for discharging sewage into the Thames stressed that E. coli was a naturally occurring organism and likely to be present in floodwater.
—Billy Stockwell, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024
At this time, there was a major interest in understanding the molecules that orchestrate the development of organisms.
—William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The alkaline stream that Ebb returns to the sea should reduce acidity locally and could boost the growth of marine organisms.
—IEEE Spectrum, 26 Mar. 2024
Siphonophores are colonial organisms consisting of numerous individual parts known as zooids.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2024
Scientists using the Hubble Space Telescope and the Galileo space probe have detected evidence of water plumes erupting from Europa’s surface, potentially indicating the subsurface sea has a source of heat that could sustain organisms.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'organism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
circa 1774, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing organism
Dictionary Entries Near organism
Cite this Entry
“Organism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/organism. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
organism
noun
or·gan·ism
ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm
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
Medical Definition
organism
noun
or·gan·ism
ˈȯr-gə-ˌniz-əm
: an individual constituted to carry on the activities of life by means of organs separate in function but mutually dependent : a living being
More from Merriam-Webster on organism
Nglish: Translation of organism for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of organism for Arabic Speakers
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