protozoan

noun

pro·​to·​zo·​an ˌprō-tə-ˈzō-ən How to pronounce protozoan (audio)
: any of a phylum or subkingdom (Protozoa) of chiefly motile and heterotrophic unicellular protists (such as amoebas, trypanosomes, sporozoans, and paramecia) that are represented in almost every kind of habitat and include some pathogenic parasites of humans and domestic animals
protozoan adjective

Examples of protozoan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This is why Darpa has tasked Rutgers with also engineering oysters resistant to dermo, a protozoan that’s dogged Atlantic oysters for decades. Saqib Rahim, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2024 By Racz’s desk sits a cardboard box of parasite stuffed animals featuring cartoonish lice, ticks and the protozoan that causes Chagas disease. Hannah Richter, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024 That can cause an imbalance in the oral microbiome (all the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans living in the mouth). Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 11 July 2024 But once the fish had died, the remaining dinoflagellates started to circle the protozoan. Patrick Huyghe, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 See all Example Sentences for protozoan 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'protozoan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Protozoa, from prot- + -zoa

First Known Use

circa 1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of protozoan was circa 1864

Dictionary Entries Near protozoan

Cite this Entry

“Protozoan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protozoan. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

protozoan

noun
pro·​to·​zo·​an ˌprōt-ə-ˈzō-ən How to pronounce protozoan (audio)
: any of a phylum or group of microorganisms (as amoebas and paramecia) that are single-celled protists and have varied structure and physiology and often complicated life cycles
protozoan adjective

Medical Definition

protozoan

1 of 2 noun
pro·​to·​zo·​an -ˈzō-ən How to pronounce protozoan (audio)
: any protist of the phylum or subkingdom Protozoa

protozoan

2 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to the phylum or subkingdom Protozoa

More from Merriam-Webster on protozoan

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