flagellum

F4L1A1G2E1L1L1U1M3
/fləˈd͡ʒɛləm/

noun

In protists, a long, whiplike membrane-enclosed organelle used for locomotion or feeding.

Similar
ciliumwhipscourge
OriginLatin flagellum ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰleh₂-? →
UncommonScrabble 15
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Meanings

nounflagellum (plural flagella or flagellums or (proscribed) flagellae)

plural flagella · plural flagellums · plural proscribed flagellae

  1. biologyIn protists, a long, whiplike membrane-enclosed organelle used for locomotion or feeding.

    Synonyms: cilium

  2. biologyIn bacteria, a long, whiplike proteinaceous appendage, used for locomotion.
  3. formalA whip.

    Synonyms: whip

Synonyms & antonyms

nounIn protists, a long, whiplike membrane-enclosed organelle used for locomotion or feeding.

Similar
cilium

nounA whip.

Similar
whip

More synonyms by meaning

nouna whip used to inflict punishment

Similar
scourge
Broader
whip
Also see
scourge

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰleh₂-?
  2. Latinflagrum
  3. Latinflagellum
  4. Englishflagellum

From Latin flagellum (“whip”), diminutive of flagrum.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Arabic سَوْط
  • سَوْط (sawṭ)long whiplike organelle
Bulgarian камшиче, камшиче
  • камшиче (kamšiče)long whiplike organelle
  • камшиче (kamšiče)long whiplike appendage
Chinese Cantonese 鞭毛
  • 鞭毛 (bin¹ mou⁴)long whiplike organelle
Chinese Mandarin 鞭毛
  • 鞭毛 (biānmáo)long whiplike organelle
Czech bičík
  • bičíklong whiplike organelle
Finnish siima, siima
  • siimalong whiplike organelle
  • siimalong whiplike appendage
French flagelle, flagelle
  • flagellelong whiplike organelle
  • flagellelong whiplike appendage
German Geißel, Flagellum
  • Geißellong whiplike organelle
  • Flagellumlong whiplike organelle
Greek μαστίγιο, μαστίγιο
  • μαστίγιο (mastígio)long whiplike organelle
  • μαστίγιο (mastígio)long whiplike appendage
Hungarian ostor
  • ostorlong whiplike organelle
Japanese 鞭毛, 鞭毛
  • 鞭毛 (benmō)long whiplike organelle
  • 鞭毛 (benmō)long whiplike appendage
Māori hurunuku, hurunuku
  • hurunukulong whiplike organelle
  • hurunukulong whiplike appendage
Persian تاژک
  • تاژک (tāžak)long whiplike organelle
Polish biczyk, wić
  • biczyklong whiplike organelle
  • wićlong whiplike appendage
Russian жгу́тик, жгу́тик
  • жгу́тик (žgútik)long whiplike organelle
  • жгу́тик (žgútik)long whiplike appendage
Spanish flagelo
  • flagelolong whiplike organelle
Swedish flagell, flagell
  • flagelllong whiplike organelle
  • flagelllong whiplike appendage
Turkish kamçı, flagellum
  • kamçılong whiplike organelle
  • flagellumlong whiplike organelle
Ukrainian джгу́тик, джгу́тик
  • джгу́тик (džhútyk)long whiplike organelle
  • джгу́тик (džhútyk)long whiplike appendage
Welsh fflagelwm, fflagelwm
  • fflagelwmlong whiplike organelle
  • fflagelwmlong whiplike appendage

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with flagellum

vellumcerebellumantebellumscutellumAbelamarchicerebellumcapitellumcerebrocerebellumclitellumflabellumhaustellumlabellumneocerebellumpaleocerebellumpostbellumrostellumskellumspinocerebellumstatus quo ante bellumvestibulocerebellum
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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