online vocabulary.com

Commensal - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Commensal describes a relationship between organisms where one benefits while the other is unaffected, such as barnacles on whales. It is often used in biology to describe neutral coexistence.

commensal

/kəˈmɛnsəl/ /kəˈmɛnsəl/

Definition:

Living together beneficially without harming each other, often in biology.

Synonyms:

symbiotic, coexisting, mutualistic

Part of Speech:

adjective, noun

Antonyms:

parasitic, antagonistic

Common Collocations:

commensal relationship, commensal bacteria, commensal organism

Derivatives:

commensalism, commensally

Usage Tips:

Use "commensal" to describe organisms benefiting without harming each other, like gut bacteria and humans.

Common Phrases:

commensal flora, commensal host, commensal interaction

Etymology:

From Latin "com-" (together) + "mensa" (table), meaning sharing a table or resources peacefully.

Examples:

  • 1. The bacteria in our gut are commensal and aid digestion without harming us.
  • 2. Some birds have a commensal relationship with cattle, eating insects off their backs.
  • 3. Commensal organisms thrive in human skin without causing disease.
  • 4. The shark and remora share a commensal bond; the remora gets food scraps.

MORE VOCABULARY LISTS