parasitism
noun
par·a·sit·ism
ˈper-ə-sə-ˌti-zəm 
-ˌsī-,
ˈpa-rə-
1
: the behavior of a parasite
2
: an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds
especially
: one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usually injures
3
Examples of parasitism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Taking its cue from article 1240 of France’s Civil Code, parasitism is defined as one party following in the footsteps of another party’s efforts and know-how to benefit from their enterprise without seeking permission or making payment.
—
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 July 2024
That study, which was conducted in Delaware, found that six of 40 fawn carcasses showed signs of lone-star tick parasitism, which was previously thought to be more prevalent in the South.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 27 June 2024
And many of the negative traits often ascribed to Roma—criminality, welfare parasitism, lack of assimilability—were seamlessly transferred to refugees.
—Tara Zahra, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2017
Other anglerfish engage in obligate parasitism, where the male’s head dissolves into the female and the two fish’s circulatory systems fuse, the male becoming a permanent sperm-producing organ.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2024
Citizen scientists have made important discoveries and extended the range of zombie fly parasitism of honey bees to the Pacific Northwest, the eastern US, the eastern US, the southern US, and both western and eastern Canada.
—Guest, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2017
Either way, the study adds to the scant overall knowledge of defenses against mimicry and brood parasitism.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2023
Barbe notes that basic natural processes like the nitrogen cycle don’t occur in the game, nor do key relationships between organisms, like parasitism.
—James Dinneen, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2021
Many decades ago, researchers noticed that some ant species employ a more clandestine kind of parasitism.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2023
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 July 2024
That study, which was conducted in Delaware, found that six of 40 fawn carcasses showed signs of lone-star tick parasitism, which was previously thought to be more prevalent in the South.
—Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 27 June 2024
And many of the negative traits often ascribed to Roma—criminality, welfare parasitism, lack of assimilability—were seamlessly transferred to refugees.
—Tara Zahra, Foreign Affairs, 11 Feb. 2017
Other anglerfish engage in obligate parasitism, where the male’s head dissolves into the female and the two fish’s circulatory systems fuse, the male becoming a permanent sperm-producing organ.
—Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2024
Citizen scientists have made important discoveries and extended the range of zombie fly parasitism of honey bees to the Pacific Northwest, the eastern US, the eastern US, the southern US, and both western and eastern Canada.
—Guest, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2017
Either way, the study adds to the scant overall knowledge of defenses against mimicry and brood parasitism.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 July 2023
Barbe notes that basic natural processes like the nitrogen cycle don’t occur in the game, nor do key relationships between organisms, like parasitism.
—James Dinneen, Discover Magazine, 14 Apr. 2021
Many decades ago, researchers noticed that some ant species employ a more clandestine kind of parasitism.
—Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'parasitism.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Parasitism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/parasitism. Accessed 15 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
parasitism
noun
par·a·sit·ism
ˈpar-ə-sə-ˌtiz-əm
-ˌsīt-ˌiz-
: a close association between living things of two or more kinds of which one is a parasite obtaining benefits from the other which is a host and is usually harmed in some way
Medical Definition
parasitism
noun
par·a·sit·ism
ˈpar-ə-sə-ˌtiz-əm
-ˌsīt-ˌiz-
-ˌsīt-ˌiz-
1
: an intimate association between organisms of two or more kinds
especially
: one in which a parasite obtains benefits from a host which it usually injures
2
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