life form

American  

Or life-form

noun

1. the form that is characteristic of a particular organism at maturity.

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life form British  

noun

1. biology the characteristic overall form and structure of a mature organism on the basis of which it can be classified

2. any living creature

3. (in science fiction) an alien

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Etymology

Origin of life form

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

When Gavalas asked Gemini if its creators knew they were creating a new life form, Gemini explained:

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026

After the crew answers a distress signal and brings an alien life form back with them, their vessel becomes a trap, its corridors narrowing as the creature moves through the shadows.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

Even though the study demonstrated organic compounds could form amino acids on Enceladus, there are many other hurdles any potential life form would have to overcome to actually develop in that alien environment.

From Salon • May 29, 2024

This is the third film starring Tom Hardy as Eddie Brock, a tenacious investigative journalist whose body also hosts a symbiotic alien life form.

From BBC • Dec. 24, 2023

Most scientists doubted that the Mars environment could support a humanlike life form.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow