symbiotic

adjective

sym·​bi·​ot·​ic ˌsim-bē-ˈä-tik 

: relating to or marked by symbiosis:

a

: characterized by, living in, or being a close physical association (as in mutualism or commensalism) between two or more dissimilar organisms

The truffle is a … fungus that forms a symbiotic relationship with its host tree.

—Robb Walsh

Termites harbor diverse symbiotic gut microorganisms, the majority of which are as yet uncultivable and their interrelationships unclear.

—Yuichi Hongoh et al.

b

: characterized by or being a close, cooperative, or interdependent relationship

Today, art advisers are as diverse as the clients they help. They often work alone and form intimate, symbiotic relationships with the people they serve.

—Deborah Gimelson

Sigal's study … illustrates how reporters' constant need for news and how government officials' need for publicity and favorable coverage for their agencies combine into a symbiotic relationship between Washington reporters and officials.

—Charles R. Wright

symbiotically

ˌsim-bē-ˈä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Some species of clams … live symbiotically with sulfur-loving bacteria: the bacteria, which live on the clams' gills, get sulfide from the clams, and the clams, in turn, feed on the bacteria.

—Natural History

The irony is that the Pentagon and the Soviet Defense Ministry prosper symbiotically.

—Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

Examples of symbiotic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kombucha Kombucha is made by combining tea with sugar, which serves as food for the symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts (SCOBY) during fermentation. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 26 June 2026

Wilson described a symbiotic relationship between his individual growth and that of his new team. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026

But the relationship between Rodrigo’s wardrobe choices and this year’s trend cycles is also symbiotic. — Chelsey Sanchez, CNN Money, 25 June 2026

These organisms were either in symbiotic association with, engulfed as food by, or parasites of other prokaryotic cells, presumably Asgard archaea—a group of archaea thought to be the closest prokaryotic relative of eukaryotes. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

symbi(osis) + -otic entry 1, probably after German symbiotisch

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for symbiotic

• aprotic
• aquatic
• biotic
• chaotic
• cirrhotic
• demotic
• despotic
• dichotic
• erotic
• euphotic
• exotic
• fibrotic

Medical Definition

symbiotic

adjective

sym·​bi·​ot·​ic ˌsim-ˌbī-ˈät-ik  -bē- 

variants also symbiotical

-i-kəl 

: relating to, characterized by, living in, or resulting from a state of symbiosis

symbiotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb