# taxidermy

/ˈtæksəˌdɝmi/ (US) · /tˈæksɪdəmi/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/taxidermy
Updated: 2026-10-18

## Definition

a craft for preserving dead animals so they look alive, usually by filling the skin and putting it on show in a museum.

For teachers: 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.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.