To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Definition of parasitoid
: an insect and especially a wasp that completes its larval development within the body of another insect eventually killing it and is free-living as an adult
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Test Your Vocabulary
Semantic Drift Quiz
- Which of the following was once a synonym for fun?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
Semantic Drift Quiz
A challenging quiz of changing words.
Take the quizA Thanksgiving Word Quiz
We are thankful for obscure words.
Take the quizSpell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quizDictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share parasitoid
Time Traveler for parasitoid
The first known use of parasitoid was in 1914
See more words from the same year