nematode
noun
nem·a·tode
ˈne-mə-ˌtōd 
ˈnē-
: any of a phylum (Nematoda or Nemata) of elongated cylindrical worms parasitic in animals or plants or free-living in soil or water
called also roundworm
Examples of nematode in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Marigolds repel a variety of pests like beetles and nematodes, protecting crops such as potatoes and carrots.
—
Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025
Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona and the University of Cambridge demonstrated the approach in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
The nickname originated in the late 1800s, before cold spells, nematodes, and spider mites impacted the success of the area’s pineapple industry in the early 1900s.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2025
But coaxing nematodes is tricky and time-consuming, so Ortega-Jiménez collaborated with Ranjiangshang Ran, a postdoc studying fluid mechanics at Emory University, who ran computer simulations of thousands more jump trajectories.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
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Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Dec. 2025
Scientists at the Centre for Genomic Regulation in Barcelona and the University of Cambridge demonstrated the approach in the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Dec. 2025
The nickname originated in the late 1800s, before cold spells, nematodes, and spider mites impacted the success of the area’s pineapple industry in the early 1900s.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2025
But coaxing nematodes is tricky and time-consuming, so Ortega-Jiménez collaborated with Ranjiangshang Ran, a postdoc studying fluid mechanics at Emory University, who ran computer simulations of thousands more jump trajectories.
—Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nematode
Cite this Entry
“Nematode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nematode. Accessed 20 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
nematode
noun
nem·a·tode
ˈnem-ə-ˌtōd
: any of a major group of long cylinder-shaped worms that are parasites in animals or plants or live in soil or water
called also roundworm
Medical Definition
nematode
1 of 2 adjective
nem·a·tode
ˈnem-ə-ˌtōd
: of or relating to the phylum Nematoda
nematode
2 of 2 noun
: any worm of the phylum Nematoda
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