Meanings
plural phytoplanktons
- countableuncountablePlankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.
Synonyms: microalga
Synonyms & antonyms
nounPlankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.
Origin
- Ancient Greekφυτόν“plant”
- Englishphytoplankton
From phyto- + plankton. From Ancient Greek φυτόν (phutón, “plant”) + πλαγκτόν (planktón), neuter of πλαγκτός (planktós, “wandering”). However, they are no longer classified as plants, so the terminology is showing a historical meaning.
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Finnish kasviplankton
- kasviplanktonplankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
French phytoplancton
- phytoplanctonplankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
German Phytoplankton
- Phytoplanktonplankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
Greek φυτοπλαγκτόν
- φυτοπλαγκτόν (fytoplagktón)plankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
Polish fitoplankton
- fitoplanktonplankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
Russian фитопланктон
- фитопланктон (fitoplankton)plankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
Spanish fitoplancton
- fitoplanctonplankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
Swedish fytoplankton
- fytoplanktonplankton that obtain energy through photosynthesis
Cite this entry
phytoplankton. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phytoplankton
“phytoplankton.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phytoplankton. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phytoplankton,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phytoplankton.
Source: phytoplankton on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.