living fossil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Scientific, Figurative
Quick answer
What does “living fossil” mean?
An organism, such as a plant or animal, that has remained essentially unchanged from earlier geological times and whose close relatives are usually extinct.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An organism, such as a plant or animal, that has remained essentially unchanged from earlier geological times and whose close relatives are usually extinct.
A person, institution, or object that has survived from the past and appears outdated or anachronistic in the modern world.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Usage is identical in both dialects.
Connotations
Slightly more common in British popular science writing due to historical figures like Sir David Attenborough; the metaphorical use is equally common in both.
Frequency
Low frequency in general discourse; moderate frequency in biological, paleontological, and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “living fossil” in a Sentence
be + considered + a living fossilbe + described as + a living fossilbe + referred to as + a living fossilbe + seen as + a living fossilVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “living fossil” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The species seems to have fossilised in its evolutionary path.
- It has survived, virtually unchanged, for eons.
American English
- The company has fossilized in its business practices.
- It has persisted, largely unaltered, for millennia.
adjective
British English
- It has a living-fossil status among botanists.
- The living-fossil plant was discovered in a remote valley.
American English
- It holds a living fossil status among marine biologists.
- The living fossil fish was caught off the Comoros.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically for outdated business models or technologies: 'The fax machine is a living fossil in the age of instant messaging.'
Academic
Used precisely in biology/paleontology to describe species like the coelacanth, ginkgo, or horseshoe crab.
Everyday
Used metaphorically for people or things that seem old-fashioned: 'My grandfather still uses a rotary phone; he's a living fossil.'
Technical
A species or genus that has survived for millions of years with little morphological change, often representing the sole survivor of a once-diverse lineage.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “living fossil”
- Using it to describe any old object (it implies *unchanged* survival, not just age).
- Using it as a direct insult without the figurative, almost scientific tone.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a popular term used in science communication, but some biologists criticise it as oversimplified, as no species is truly 'unchanged' over millions of years. Terms like 'Lazarus taxon' or 'evolutionary relic' are more technically accurate.
Yes, but it is a figurative and often humorous or mildly derogatory use, implying someone is very old-fashioned or adheres to outdated ideas or styles.
The coelacanth, a fish thought to have been extinct for 66 million years until found alive in 1938, is the most famous example. Others include the horseshoe crab, the ginkgo tree, and the platypus.
No. A fossil is the preserved remains or impression of a once-living organism. A 'living fossil' is a living organism whose form has changed very little from fossils of its ancient, often extinct, relatives.
An organism, such as a plant or animal, that has remained essentially unchanged from earlier geological times and whose close relatives are usually extinct.
Living fossil is usually formal, scientific, figurative in register.
Living fossil: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪv.ɪŋ ˈfɒs.əl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪv.ɪŋ ˈfɑː.səl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a living fossil from a bygone era”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a FOSSIL (a stone imprint of an ancient creature) that is somehow still LIVING and walking around today. That's the core idea.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS SPACE / THE PAST IS A PHYSICAL ENTITY THAT CAN SURVIVE. The organism is conceptualised as a piece of the past that has physically persisted into the present.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST example of a 'living fossil' in its metaphorical sense?