Definition

A person who studies and classifies living things, such as plants and animals, into groups based on their characteristics.

Example

The taxonomist identified a new species of butterfly during her research.

Conversation

Have you ever met a taxonomist?

No, I haven't. What do they do exactly?

They classify and name living organisms, which is pretty fascinating!

That sounds really interesting! I’d love to learn more about their work.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Taxonomist → It is formed from "taxon" (from Greek "taxis", meaning arrangement) and "-omist" (from Greek "-ist", meaning one who practices or specializes in). A taxonomist is someone who specializes in the arrangement or classification of organisms.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'taxon' as an 'arrangement' of living things, and '-omist' means a person who specializes in that arrangement. This helps you remember that a taxonomist is someone who classifies and organizes different species.

Visually Confused Words