planktonic

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UK/plaŋkˈtɒnɪk/US/plæŋkˈtɑnɪk/

adjective

Of or pertaining to plankton.

OriginGerman planktonisch ← Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν →
Less commonScrabble 18
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Meanings

adjectiveplanktonic (not comparable)

alternative planktic

  1. not comparableOf or pertaining to plankton.

    Tiny shells of planktonic animals rain down from the surface waters of the ocean on to the deep sea-floor.

    2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 146
  2. not comparableFloating in the open sea rather than living on the seafloor.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
planktontic

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπλαγκτόν“drifting”
  2. Germanplanktonisch
  3. Englishplanktonic

From plankton + -ic, after German planktonisch. From Ancient Greek πλαγκτόν (planktón, “drifting”), neuter nominative of πλαγκτός (planktós), from πλάζομαι (plázomai, “to wander, drift”), from πλάζω (plázō, “to cause to wander, drive astray”).

More words from German, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan planctònic
  • planctònicof or pertaining to plankton
Finnish planktinen
  • planktinenof or pertaining to plankton
French planctonique
  • planctoniqueof or pertaining to plankton
Italian planctonico
  • planctonicoof or pertaining to plankton
Polish planktonowy
  • planktonowyof or pertaining to plankton
Romanian planctonic
  • planctonicof or pertaining to plankton
Spanish planctónico
  • planctónicoof or pertaining to plankton

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with planktonic

electronicchronicsonicharmonicmonophonicionicironicultrasonictonicmasonicsymphonicsupersoniciconicdemoniccolonicmnemonicbionicplatonicmonotonichydroponichadronicphoniccarbonicarachidonic
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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