# organism

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɔː.ɡəˌnɪz.əm/ · frequency rank #13,206

## Definitions
1. A discrete and complete living thing, such as animal, plant, fungus or microorganism.
2. Something with many separate interdependent parts, seen as being like a living thing; an organic system.
3. The fact of being organic; organicity.

## Etymology
First attested in 1701; from organ + -ism, from Ancient Greek ὄργανον (órganon, “a tool, instrument”), from Proto-Indo-European *werǵ- (“work”). Compare New Latin organismus.

## Easily confused with
- **organs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organism-vs-organs)
- **orgasm** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organism-vs-orgasm)
- **organize** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organism-vs-organize)
- **organist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organism-vs-organist)
- **organic** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organic-vs-organism)
- **organise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organise-vs-organism)
- **organised** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organised-vs-organism)
- **organiser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/organiser-vs-organism)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ogranism`, `oragnism`, `orgainsm`, `organims`, `organismm`, `organissm`, `organnism`, `organsim`, `orgganism`, `orgnaism`, `orrganism`, `roganism`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/organism