plural organisms
1
: an individual living thing
a microscopic organism
A human being is a complex organism.
2
: a system with many parts that depend on each other and work together
—usually singular
He thinks of the city as a complex social/political/economic organism.
Cite this Entry
“Organism.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/organism. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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