: 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
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What’s more, even as they are defined by death, bogs are also springboards for unusual and unlikely life-forms that extend our understanding of biology—from acid-flinging mosses to amphibian-eating plants. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 There are many different types of life deserving of our respect, but that doesn’t mean a very simple life-form on Mars should unduly eliminate any possible benefit humans could gain by going there. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2026 Jains typically do not eat root vegetables because harvesting them destroys the whole plant and harms life-forms around it. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for life-form

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 20 Oct. 2026.

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