life-form

noun

ˈlīf-ˈfȯrm How to pronounce life-form (audio)
-ˌfȯrm
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But by tweaking this archetype again and again, Chan transforms a cheap gimmick into a complex ecosystem of life-forms. — Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 Our cooperation extends beyond caring for young and carries us to places no other life-form can dream of. — Literary Hub, 5 May 2026 Not only is it filled with hostile life-forms, but the planet itself is a shape-shifter — meaning its geography changes with each new mission. — ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 This process contributed to the emergence of many diverse and complex eukaryotic life-forms on Earth. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 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

Browse Nearby Words

life force
life-form
lifeful
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Life-form.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/life-form. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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