definitive host

noun

Definition of definitive host

: the host in which the sexual reproduction of a parasite takes place — compare intermediate host sense 1

Examples of definitive host in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Ants infected by a roundworm called Myrmeconema neotropicumturns turn from black to red and strike suicidal berry poses that attract hungry birds, the worm’s definitive host. — Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 23 Sep. 2019 Dogs and other carnivores are the definitive hosts, and mosquitoes serve as vectors. — Marci Robin, Allure, 22 June 2018

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Cite this Entry

“Definitive host.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/definitive%20host. Accessed 26 Jun. 2022.

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