What does taxidermy mean?
Taxidermy is the art and technique of preserving animal bodies or body parts, most commonly by treating and preparing the skin and mounting the specimen for display or scientific study. It is associated both with the preservation of natural-history specimens and with a wider tradition of decorative animal mounts. In museums and historical collections, skilled taxidermists may conserve, repair, or reproduce old specimens, combining anatomical knowledge with careful craftsmanship. The word can also carry ethical and cultural associations because the practice depends on the death of animals and may be connected to hunting, collecting, or the commercial trade in preserved specimens. Consequently, discussions of taxidermy often address animal welfare, legal restrictions, provenance, and the contrast between treating specimens as scientific records and as artistic objects. Although its techniques and conventions have changed over time, taxidermy remains a distinctive field combining practical preservation, sculptural skill, and detailed study of animal anatomy.
nounThe art or practice of preserving animal bodies or body parts, especially by preparing their skins and mounting them for display or scientific study. The resulting preserved specimens are also commonly described as taxidermy.
- The art or practice of preserving animal bodies or body parts, typically by treating and preparing the skin and mounting the specimen for display or study.
"The museum commissioned a specialist to restore an intricate piece of taxidermy created a century ago."
"The museum commissioned a specialist to restore an intricate piece of taxidermy created a century ago."
"The article examines ethical debates surrounding taxidermy and the commercial sale of preserved animals."
Usually uncountable in the sense of the art or practice; the plural is rare and can refer to individual acts or examples of the craft.
"The exhibition compares two early taxidermies made from the same species."
Taxidermy literally means “skin arrangement,” combining the Greek roots for arrangement and skin.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does taxidermy come from?
The word was formed in the 19th century from Greek taxis, meaning “arrangement” or “order,” and derma, meaning “skin.” Its literal sense reflects the arrangement and preparation of animal skins. The same Greek roots are reflected in cognates such as taxonomy, concerned with ordered classification, and dermatology, concerned with the skin.
Related word forms
How taxidermy is actually used
Usually treated as an uncountable noun. It is primarily a specialist term associated with natural-history museums, hunting traditions, decorative art, and ethical debates about animal welfare and the representation of living creatures after death.
Easily confused with taxidermy
Taxidermy is the preservation and mounting of animal specimens, whereas taxonomy is the scientific classification of organisms.