taxonomy

noun

tax·​on·​o·​my tak-ˈsä-nə-mē How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
1
: the study of the general principles of scientific classification : systematics
2
: classification
especially : orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships
taxonomic
ˌtak-sə-ˈnä-mik How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
adjective
or less commonly taxonomical
ˌtak-sə-ˈnä-mi-kəl How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
taxonomically
ˌtak-sə-ˈnä-mi-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
adverb
taxonomist
tak-ˈsä-nə-mist How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
noun

Examples of taxonomy in a Sentence

the taxonomies of various plant groups
Recent Examples on the Web Sandbars and rock bars and gravel bars could be broken down into a full taxonomy describing their size and shape and orientation: chains and traps, riffles and reefs. —Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024 There’s lots of confusion and discussion in plant taxonomy literature as to whether there are multiple species or a single species with a few subspecies spread around the globe. —Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 7 June 2024 What starts off as a press conference about this strange scourge quickly morphs into a necessary taxonomy of the broader character actor landscape. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 19 May 2024 The new paper provides a taxonomy of singularities for different scale-factor scenarios. —Steve Nadis, Quanta Magazine, 31 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for taxonomy 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'taxonomy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French taxonomie, from Greek táxis "arrangement, order" + French -o- -o- + -nomie -nomy — more at taxis

Note: French taxonomie was a coinage of the Geneva-born botanist Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841), in Théorie élémentaire de la botanique (Paris, 1813). Candolle divided botany into three divisions (p. 19): "… elle se compose 1.o de la Glossologie, c'est-à-dire, de la connaissance des termes par lesquels on designe les organes des plantes et leurs diverses modification; 2.o de la Taxonomie [footnote: "Mot formé de ταξις ordre, et νόμος loi, règle."], ou de la Théorie des classifications appliquée au règne végétal; 3.o de la Phytographie, ou de l'art de décrire les plantes de la manière la plus utile aux progrès de la science …" ("… it is composed of 1.o Glossology, that is, the recognition of the terms by which the organs of plants are designated, and their various modifications; ; 2.o Taxonomy [footnote: "Word formed from táxis order, and nómos law, rule."], or the theory of classifications applied to the vegetable kingdom; 3.o Phytography, or the art of describing plants in the manner most suited to the progress of science"). A more correct compounding form in terms of Greek word formation would have been taxi- (as táxis is an i-stem), and taxinomy did in fact see some use in the 19th century—though Candolle's original coinage has predominated. His parallel introductions, glossology and phytography, have rarely been employed.

First Known Use

circa 1828, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of taxonomy was circa 1828

Phrases Containing taxonomy

Dictionary Entries Near taxonomy

taxon

taxonomy

taxor

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Taxonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taxonomy. Accessed 27 Jun. 2024.

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Kids Definition

taxonomy

noun
tax·​on·​o·​my tak-ˈsän-ə-mē How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
1
: the study of scientific classification
2
: classification sense 2a
especially : orderly classification of living things according to their presumed natural relationships
taxonomic
ˌtak-sə-ˈnäm-ik How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

taxonomy

noun
tax·​on·​o·​my tak-ˈsän-ə-mē How to pronounce taxonomy (audio)
plural taxonomies
1
: the study of the general principles of scientific classification : systematics
2
: orderly classification of plants and animals according to their presumed natural relationships

More from Merriam-Webster on taxonomy

Britannica English: Translation of taxonomy for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about taxonomy

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