eukaryote

noun

eu·​kary·​ote (ˌ)yü-ˈker-ē-ˌōt  -ət  -ˈka-rē- 

variants or less commonly eucaryote

: any of a domain (Eukarya) or a higher taxonomic group (Eukaryota) above the kingdom that includes organisms composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles compare archaea, bacterium, prokaryote

Examples of eukaryote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What’s more, cell division — for which microtubules are crucial in eukaryotes — has yet to be observed consistently in these organisms. —Veronique Greenwood, Quanta Magazine, 8 Sep. 2025

These eukaryotes are the descendants of the eukaryotes that survived the Snowball Earth. —David Bressan, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025

Photosynthesis was such a profound development; so were eukaryotes, nervous systems and language. —Philip Ball, Wired News, 8 June 2025

Today, eukaryotes include most plant, animal, and fungi species. —Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Eukaryotes, proposed subdivision of protists, from eu- + kary- + -otes, plural noun suffix, from Greek -ōtos — more at -otic

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for eukaryote

• afloat
• azote
• banknote
• bareboat
• benzoate
• connote
• cutthroat
• demote
• denote
• devote
• endnote
• footnote

Kids Definition

eukaryote

noun

eu·​kary·​ote (ˌ)yu̇-ˈke(ə)r-ē-ˌōt 

ˈka(ə)r-

: an organism composed of one or more cells with clearly viewable nuclei

Medical Definition

eukaryote

noun

eu·​kary·​ote

variants also eucaryote

(ˈ)yü-ˈkar-ē-ˌōt  -ē-ət 

: any of a domain (Eukarya) or a higher taxonomic group (Eukaryota) above the kingdom that includes organisms composed of one or more cells containing visibly evident nuclei and organelles compare prokaryote

eukaryotic adjective

also eucaryotic

-ˌkar-ē-ˈät-ik