commensal
adjective
com·men·sal
kə-ˈmen(t)-səl 
: of, relating to, or living in a state of commensalism
commensal organisms
commensal
noun
Did you know?
Commensal types, be they human or beast, often "break bread" together. When they do, they are reflecting the etymology of commensal, which derives from the Latin prefix com-, meaning "with, together," jointly and the Latin adjective mensalis, meaning "of the table." In its earliest English uses, "commensal" referred to people who ate together, but around 1870, biologists started using it for organisms that have no use for a four-piece table setting. Since then, the scientific sense has almost completely displaced the dining one.
Examples of commensal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, cleaning stations are mutualistic while hitchhiking is commensal.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
2 Feb. 2026
This represents a prey pathway in the domestication process in addition to a commensal one.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 June 2025
According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
—
Jorge Garay,
Wired News,
29 May 2025
In commensal domestication, however, humans unintentionally create an environment that attracts the animal.
—
Gemma Tarlach,
Discover Magazine,
8 Nov. 2016
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
2 Feb. 2026
This represents a prey pathway in the domestication process in addition to a commensal one.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 June 2025
According to some biologists, this might show that these birds are on their way to becoming commensal with humans—benefiting from living closely alongside them—like pigeons have in urban areas.
—
Jorge Garay,
Wired News,
29 May 2025
In commensal domestication, however, humans unintentionally create an environment that attracts the animal.
—
Gemma Tarlach,
Discover Magazine,
8 Nov. 2016
Cite this Entry
“Commensal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/commensal. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
commensal
adjective
com·men·sal
kə-ˈmen(t)-səl
: relating to or living in a state of commensalism
Medical Definition
commensal
adjective
com·men·sal
kə-ˈmen(t)-səl
: of, relating to, or living in a state of commensalism
commensal
noun
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