photophilic

P3H4O1T1O1P3H4I1L1I1C3

adjective

That thrives in bright sunlight

OriginEnglish photo- ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
Scrabble 23
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Meanings

adjectivephotophilic (comparative more photophilic, superlative most photophilic)

comparative more photophilic · superlative most photophilic

  1. biologyThat thrives in bright sunlight

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishphotophilic

From photo- + -philic.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

photophilic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photophilic

MLA

“photophilic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photophilic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “photophilic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/photophilic.

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