ectosymbiont

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noun

A partner in a symbiotic relationship that remains on the surface of its host or occupies a body cavity

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

nounectosymbiont (plural ectosymbionts)

plural ectosymbionts

  1. biologyA partner in a symbiotic relationship that remains on the surface of its host or occupies a body cavity

Origin

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

From ecto- + symbiont.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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