prokaryote

noun

pro·​kary·​ote (ˌ)prō-ˈker-ē-ˌōt 

(ˌ)prō-ˈka-rē-ˌōt

variants or less commonly procaryote

: any of the typically unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and that are classified as a kingdom (Prokaryotae synonym Monera) or into two domains (Bacteria and Archaea) compare archaea, bacterium, eukaryote

Examples of prokaryote in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Why regulate genes in this complicated manner, rather than relying on the kind of strong and specific interactions between regulatory proteins and DNA sites that dominate in prokaryotes? —Philip Ball, Quanta Magazine, 14 Feb. 2024

More complex organisms like ourselves descend from eukaryotes, which have a nuclear membrane around their DNA (as opposed to prokaryotes, which don’t). —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 2 Feb. 2024

In fact, as far back as the mid-1800s researchers had been lighting on evidence that bacteria were able to manufacture substances that inhibited or even killed other prokaryotes. —Mark Caldwell, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019

The team is building on a 2021 discovery of a class of RNA-programmable systems in prokaryotes called OMEGAs. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 June 2023

Faced with the same supply problem, Epulopiscium will remain a prokaryote. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010

Even this giant prokaryote needs to have genes in close proximity to its membrane. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2010

Up until then, viral factories appeared to be exclusive to the viruses that infect eukaryotes, so finding one in a prokaryote bolstered the idea that something similar could have happened long ago to initiate the formation of a nucleus. —Quanta Magazine, 25 Nov. 2020

But some researchers suspect there are many more species of prokaryotes in the world — which would mean many more species of viruses. —Carl Zimmer, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2020

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Prokaryotes, proposed subdivision of protists, from pro- entry 1 + kary- + -otes, plural noun suffix, from Greek -ōtos — more at -otic

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

prokaryote

noun

pro·​kary·​ote prō-ˈkar-ē-ˌōt 

: an organism (as a bacterium) that is typically single-celled and does not have a nucleus or most of the cell structures (as mitochondria) characteristic of eukaryotes

Medical Definition

prokaryote

noun

pro·​kary·​ote

variants also procaryote

(ˈ)prō-ˈkar-ē-ˌōt 

: any of the typically unicellular microorganisms that lack a distinct nucleus and membrane-bound organelles and that are classified as a kingdom (Prokaryotae synonym Monera) or into two domains (Bacteria and Archaea) compare eukaryote

prokaryotic adjective

also procaryotic

-ˌkar-ē-ˈät-ik