Word
taxidermy
Phoneticstaxi·dermy
US/ˈtæksəˌdɝmi/
UK/tˈæksɪdəmi/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. a craft for preserving dead animals so they look alive, usually by filling the skin and putting it on show in a museum.
n. the art or practice of preserving animal skins by cleaning, stuffing and mounting them to create lifelike forms for display or study.
Examples
“She learns taxidermy to preserve birds for the museum.”
“The natural history museum hired a specialist in taxidermy to restore its century-old bear exhibit.”
“Victorian parlours often displayed taxidermy as both scientific curiosity and status symbol, blurring the line between natural history and interior decoration.”
Examples
simple
“She learns taxidermy to preserve birds for the museum.”
contextual
“The natural history museum hired a specialist in taxidermy to restore its century-old bear exhibit.”
complex
“Victorian parlours often displayed taxidermy as both scientific curiosity and status symbol, blurring the line between natural history and interior decoration.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “taxidermy” in context.
Verb
01. commission taxidermy
“The museum commissioned taxidermy of rare birds for the new wing.”
verb + noun
02. learn taxidermy
“She travelled to Scotland to learn taxidermy from a master craftsman.”
verb + noun
03. practise taxidermy
“He apprenticed with a naturalist to practise taxidermy professionally.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. lifelike taxidermy
“Modern techniques produce remarkably lifelike taxidermy for educational exhibits.”
adj + noun
05. rogue taxidermy
“The gallery exhibited rogue taxidermy combining rabbit parts with bird wings.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. art of taxidermy
“She mastered the art of taxidermy during a three-year apprenticeship.”
noun + prep + noun
07. collection of taxidermy
“The manor houses a vast collection of taxidermy from the Victorian era.”
noun + prep + noun
08. piece of taxidermy
“Each piece of taxidermy in the hall took weeks to complete.”
noun + prep + noun
09. a collection of victorian taxidermy
“The museum unveiled a collection of Victorian taxidermy last spring.”
10. commission a piece of taxidermy
“The university commissioned a piece of taxidermy for its zoology lab.”
11. practise the art of taxidermy
“He spent two years in Berlin learning to practise the art of taxidermy.”
12. preserve animals through taxidermy
“Naturalists preserve animals through taxidermy for scientific study.”
Real-World Examples
“She used to have much more taxidermy on display, but her three cats are “barbarians” and as kittens they started “interacting with it in weird ways”.” “Differentiating themselves from the traditional trophy taxidermy approach of killing and stuffing, Sinke and van Tongeren exclusively utilize animals that have passed away from natural causes, obtaining their specimens solely from breeders, animal shelters, or zoos.” “Inside the museum, metal shelves of taxidermy fill the space floor to ceiling.” “Taxidermy is frequently perceived as a hobby for men, with large game displayed against dark wooden walls.” Etymology
Borrowed from French taxidermie, from Ancient Greek τάξις (táxis, “arrangement”, “order”) + δέρμα (dérma, “skin”). Analysable as taxi- + derm- + -y.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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