1
: having the form of an animal
2
: of, relating to, or being a deity conceived of in animal form or with animal attributes

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Zoomorphic comes from zôion, meaning "animal," and -morphic, an adjective combining form meaning "have (such) a form" and from Greek morphē, "form."

Examples of zoomorphic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Additional anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurines were found over the ensuing decades, and in 2002 fingerprints were discovered on many of the objects. Jaimie Seaton, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 July 2024 People also preferred the zoomorphic gestures over more abstract gestures designed to communicate the same concept. IEEE Spectrum, 16 Apr. 2021

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French zoomorphique, from zoo- zoo- + -morphique -morphic

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zoomorphic was in 1849

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Cite this Entry

“Zoomorphic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zoomorphic. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.

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