WordValeorganism
an individual living thing
In more detail
1. (noun) a living thing, such as a plant or animal
2. (noun) a system or group of things that work together like a living body
Examples
- 1. Bacteria are single-celled organisms.
- 2. A company can be thought of as an organism with different departments working together.
How to use organism
Organism is a formal, scientific term for any individual living thing, ranging from bacteria to humans. It can also be used metaphorically to describe any system with interdependent parts that function as a unified whole, such as a social organism or political organism. The term is neutral and common in both biological contexts and abstract discussions of complex systems.
Common phrases
- living organism
- single-celled organism
- complex organism
- organism's survival
- organism and environment
Synonyms
living thing · creature · life form · being · entity
Word family
organic · organism · organismal · organise/organize
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use organism to refer only to animals, forgetting that plants, fungi, and microorganisms are also organisms.
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