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Added 8 October 2026

organism

/ˈɔː.ɡə.nɪ.zəm/ noun

In Latin: organismus First recorded: 1701 Wiktionary

noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about organism at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A discrete and complete living thing, such as animal, plant, fungus or microorganism. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}
Something with many separate interdependent parts, seen as being like a living thing; an organic system.
The fact of being organic; organicity.

Origin

First attested in 1701; from organ + -ism, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (órganon, “a tool, instrument”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- (“work”). Compare New Latin organismus.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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