Taxonomy Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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taxonomy

[tækˈsɒnəmi ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

biology

The science of classification, especially of organisms; systematics.

Synonyms

categorization, classification, systematics.

Examples of usage

  • Taxonomy helps scientists organize and classify different species based on their characteristics.
  • In biology, taxonomy is used to categorize living organisms into different groups and hierarchies.
Context #2 | Noun

general

A scheme of classification; a systematic arrangement of things or concepts.

Synonyms

arrangement, classification system, systematic order.

Examples of usage

  • In library taxonomy, books are organized according to their subjects and genres.
  • The taxonomy of educational theories helps educators understand different approaches to teaching.
Context #3 | Noun

computing

The practice and science of classification of information for retrieval purposes; categorization of data in databases.

Synonyms

categorization, data classification, indexing.

Examples of usage

  • Search engines use taxonomy to index websites and make information retrieval more efficient.
  • In e-commerce, taxonomy helps organize products into relevant categories for online shoppers.

Translations

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Origin of 'taxonomy'

The term 'taxonomy' originated from the Greek words 'taxis' meaning arrangement and 'nomia' meaning method. It was first introduced by Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century to classify and categorize organisms based on shared characteristics. Since then, taxonomy has expanded beyond biology to various fields, including computing and library sciences, as a means of organizing and classifying information.


Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,693, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.