Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for life form. Search instead for unique forms.

life form

American  
Or life-form

noun

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


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of life form

First recorded in 1850–55


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

Space colonisers come face-to-face with a terrifying life form while scavenging the deep ends of a derelict space station.

From BBC ● Dec. 9, 2024

Yes, humans, like virtually every life form, have a need to procreate — but in aggregate, not individually.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2024

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

In other words, the host is possessed by a life form that is attempting to convert the host into itself.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 14,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training