prokaryotic

P3R1O1K5A1R1Y4O1T1I1C3

adjective

Of or having the characteristics of prokaryotes, especially bacteria.

Similar
bacterialprocaryotic
Opposite
eukaryotic
OriginEnglish prokaryote ← Ancient Greek πρό (pró) ← Proto-Indo-European *pró →
UncommonScrabble 22
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Meanings

adjectiveprokaryotic (not comparable)
  1. not comparableOf or having the characteristics of prokaryotes, especially bacteria.
  2. not comparableOf cells, lacking a nucleus.

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar
bacterial
Opposite
eukaryotic

adjectivehaving cells that lack membrane-bound nuclei

Similar
procaryotic
Opposite
eukaryotic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*per-der.?
  2. Proto-Indo-European*pér
  3. Proto-Indo-European*pró
  4. Ancient Greekπρό (pró)
  5. Englishpro-
  6. Englishkaryon
  7. Englishprokaryote
  8. Englishprokaryotic

From prokaryote + -ic.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan procariota, procariòtic
  • procariotaof cells, lacking a nucleus
  • procariòticof cells, lacking a nucleus
Chinese Mandarin 原核的
  • 原核的 (yuánhé de)of cells, lacking a nucleus
Czech prokaryotický
  • prokaryotickýof cells, lacking a nucleus
Dutch prokaryoot, prokaryotisch
  • prokaryootof cells, lacking a nucleus
  • prokaryotischof cells, lacking a nucleus
Finnish prokaryoottinen, esitumallinen
  • prokaryoottinenof cells, lacking a nucleus
  • esitumallinenof cells, lacking a nucleus
Greek προκαρυωτικός
  • προκαρυωτικός (prokaryotikós)of cells, lacking a nucleus
Italian procariotico
  • procarioticoof cells, lacking a nucleus
Polish prokariotyczny
  • prokariotycznyof cells, lacking a nucleus
Portuguese procariótico
  • procarióticoof cells, lacking a nucleus
Spanish procariótico
  • procarióticoof cells, lacking a nucleus
Welsh procaryotig
  • procaryotigof cells, lacking a nucleus
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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