ectocommensal

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noun

A commensal organism that lives on the surface of another organism

OriginEnglish commensal ← Ancient Greek ἐκτός (ektós) →
Scrabble 21
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Meanings

nounectocommensal (plural ectocommensals)

plural ectocommensals

  1. biologyA commensal organism that lives on the surface of another organism

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekἐκ (ek)
  2. Ancient Greekἐντός (entós)
  3. Ancient Greekἐκτός (ektós)
  4. Englishecto-
  5. Englishcommensal
  6. Englishectocommensal

From ecto- + commensal.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ectocommensal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ectocommensal

MLA

“ectocommensal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ectocommensal. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ectocommensal,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ectocommensal.

Source: ectocommensal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.