SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

microfauna

noun mi·cro·fau·na \ ˌmī-krō-ˈfȯ-nə , -ˈfä- \

Definition of microfauna

1 :minute animals; especially :those invisible to the naked eye

the soil microfauna

2 :a small or strictly localized fauna (as of a microenvironment)

—

microfaunal

play \-ˈfȯ-nᵊl, -ˈfä-\ adjective

Origin and Etymology of microfauna

New Latin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1895

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

microfauna

noun mi·cro·fau·na \ ˌmī-krō-ˈfȯn-ə, -ˈfän- \

medical Definition of microfauna

:minute animals; especially :those invisible to the naked eye

the soil microfauna

— compare macrofauna

—

microfaunal

play \-ˈfȯn-ᵊl, -ˈfän-\ adjective

Learn More about microfauna

See words that rhyme with microfauna Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about microfauna

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up microfauna? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

pelf

play

money or riches

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these words does not mean "nonsense"?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

8 Words That Put One Over on You

They'll put one over on you

alt-59ee3fc46688e

'Dis': From Early Rap to Academic Journals

The word has quickly taken center stage

alt-59ea52ed7b96f

Learned Fools: On Names for Students

Where did we get 'freshman' and 'sophomore'?

alt-59e900afadac6

The Synonyms 'Discover' and 'Invent'

In the past, you could invent fruit.

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

one-green-toy-robot-amidst-many-red-toy-robots

The Exceptions Quiz III

Which of these things doesn't belong?

Take the quiz

knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus

Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz

Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Take the quiz

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game