model organism

noun

Any organism (e.g. the fruit fly) that has been extensively studied as an example of many others, and from which general principles may be established; often chosen for reasons including short generation time, small genome, and affordability.

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Meanings

nounmodel organism (plural model organisms)

plural model organisms

  1. biologyAny organism (e.g. the fruit fly) that has been extensively studied as an example of many others, and from which general principles may be established; often chosen for reasons including short generation time, small genome, and affordability.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
model

Origin

From model + organism.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

model organism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/model%20organism

MLA

“model organism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/model%20organism. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “model organism,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/model%20organism.

Source: model organism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.