taxonomy
noun
tax·on·o·my
tak-ˈsä-nə-mē 
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
Examples of taxonomy in a Sentence
the taxonomies of various plant groups
Recent Examples on the Web
Part of what makes Pace’s book so refreshing is that the author is uninterested in finding, or inventing, breadcrumb trails that point to an artist’s sexuality, or assembling an alternative taxonomy of LGBTQ+ anthems.
—
Owen Myers, Pitchfork, 29 Feb. 2024
What we’re left with is a dreadful, sometimes surpassingly dull taxonomy of wickedness, as the greedy, lunkheaded Ernest succumbs to Hale’s venal spell, while also falling in love with and marrying an Osage woman named Mollie.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023
Those that haven’t been identified through Western taxonomy end up falling through the net of conservation programs.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Dr Britz’s research focuses on the morphology, comparative anatomy and taxonomy of fishes, particularly those occurring in Myanmar.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
So, those of us who grew up on pantsuit memes and taxonomies of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s lace collars would like to know: What’s Haley up to here?
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2024
He was known for his contribution to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the higher fungi.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024
People who travel by sea know the varied taxonomy of lighthouses: octagonal towers, skeletal metal pyramids, squat houses set on screw-pile foundations.
—Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
The company overhauled its job taxonomy, creating fewer job categories, and reducing the total number of job codes from 70,000 titles to just 2,100, along with clear descriptions of the responsibilities, skills, and experiences needed for each title.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
Owen Myers, Pitchfork, 29 Feb. 2024
What we’re left with is a dreadful, sometimes surpassingly dull taxonomy of wickedness, as the greedy, lunkheaded Ernest succumbs to Hale’s venal spell, while also falling in love with and marrying an Osage woman named Mollie.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023
Those that haven’t been identified through Western taxonomy end up falling through the net of conservation programs.
—Helen Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Dr Britz’s research focuses on the morphology, comparative anatomy and taxonomy of fishes, particularly those occurring in Myanmar.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024
So, those of us who grew up on pantsuit memes and taxonomies of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s lace collars would like to know: What’s Haley up to here?
—Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2024
He was known for his contribution to the taxonomy and phylogeny of the higher fungi.
—Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2024
People who travel by sea know the varied taxonomy of lighthouses: octagonal towers, skeletal metal pyramids, squat houses set on screw-pile foundations.
—Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
The company overhauled its job taxonomy, creating fewer job categories, and reducing the total number of job codes from 70,000 titles to just 2,100, along with clear descriptions of the responsibilities, skills, and experiences needed for each title.
—Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2024
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.
Articles Related to taxonomy
Dictionary Entries Near taxonomy
Cite this Entry
“Taxonomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/taxonomy. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
taxonomy
noun
tax·on·o·my
tak-ˈsän-ə-mē
1
: the study of scientific classification
2
: classification sense 2a
especially
: orderly classification of living things according to their presumed natural relationships
Medical Definition
taxonomy
noun
tax·on·o·my
tak-ˈsän-ə-mē
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share