rhizosphere

noun

rhi·​zo·​sphere ˈrī-zə-ˌsfir How to pronounce rhizosphere (audio)
: soil that surrounds and is influenced by the roots of a plant

Examples of rhizosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Trehalose is not only found in plant cells where it is used for protection, but also in the soil around plant roots, which is called a rhizosphere. Coren Walters-Stewart, Discover Magazine, 23 Nov. 2022 One species of bacteria that grows in the rhizosphere of birch roots is a fluorescent pseudomonad. Richard Schiffman, Scientific American, 4 May 2021 This study is hard, for the rhizosphere is a habitat as complex, in its way, as a rainforest or a coral reef. The Economist, 20 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rhizosphere was in 1921

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Cite this Entry

“Rhizosphere.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhizosphere. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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