viform

Viform is a term used to describe an organism or life form that is worm-shaped or that can assume a defined form. In biology, the standard descriptor for worm-like bodies is vermiform; viform appears as a less common variant spelling or niche usage found in some historical or descriptive glossaries. The word derives from Latin vermis, worm, and forma, form, and is etymologically related to vermiform, veriform, and vermiformia.

In formal biological writing, vermiform is preferred when describing worm-shaped morphology, while viform may be encountered in older texts, in transliterations, or in contexts where authors deliberately coin a shortened form to emphasize form rather than function. In speculative fiction, viform is more commonly used to denote a life form that adopts a particular shape—often worm-like—or that can change shape into other forms. This usage can signal metamorphosis, camouflage, or stage-based life cycles in fantastical or alien biology.

See also vermiform; vermiform appendix; morphology.